23 guns seized in GTA firearms trafficking investigation with cross-border ties

CRIME 23 guns seized in GTA firearms trafficking investigation with cross-border ties By Rachel Morgan Global News Posted September 22, 2026 3:19 pm 2 min read View image in full screen Officers say several of the firearms seized are prohibited in Canada. Global News LEAVE A COMMENT SHARE THIS ITEM ON FACEBOOK SHARE THIS ITEM ON X SEND THIS PAGE TO SOMEONE VIA EMAIL SEE MORE SHARING OPTIONS DESCREASE ARTICLE FONT SIZE INCREASE ARTICLE FONT SIZE Peel Regional Police say more than half of the guns seized in a months-long firearm-trafficking investigation originated from the U.S., including one used in a fatal double shooting. Officers seized 23 guns, several of which are prohibited in Canada, Det. Sgt. Mark Mazzocato announced Tuesday. Of those, 15 originated in the U.S. “Approximately 90 per cent of the illegal firearms that we see originate from the U.S.,” Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich said. “This investigation is a textbook example of the reality we are experiencing here in the GTA and elsewhere throughout the country.” Project Red Zone, as the investigation has been dubbed, began in October 2025 after investigators identified information that suggested illegal firearms were being trafficked in and out of the region. Over the course of 10 months, police conducted four search warrants in Mississauga, Ajax and Scarborough, and seized the 23 guns along with more than 950 rounds of ammunition and nearly 825 grams of cocaine. STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT Officers said 14 of the guns have been linked to shootings in the GTA. Get daily Montreal news Get daily Montreal news delivered to your inbox so you'll never miss the day's top stories. SIGN UP FOR DAILY MONTREAL NEWSLETTER GET STARTED BY PROVIDING YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, YOU HAVE READ AND AGREE TO GLOBAL NEWS' TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY. One of those incidents was a double shooting in the area of Queensway and Dixie Road in Mississauga in March 2024 that left a 28-year-old Toronto man dead. Another man was left with serious injuries. Police said the gun used in that shooting originated in Texas and there was approximately 4,000 days between when the gun was purchased to when the crime was committed. The trucking industry and Pearson International Airport are two of the major avenues through which illegal firearms enter Canada, Det. Michael Bishop said. “The reality is we do see Peel as a gateway to the rest of the country,” Mazzocato added. The investigation was supported by…