York Police Take Down Dark Web Drug Ring, Seize $3M in Drugs and $200K in Crypto

Five people face more than 80 charges after a months-long investigation into “Icy White North,” which police call one of Canada’s most prolific dark web drug suppliers.

York Regional Police say they’ve dismantled a Canada-wide drug trafficking operation that ran almost entirely through the dark web, arresting five people and laying more than 80 charges in the process.

Inside the “Icy White North” operation

Speaking at a news conference in Aurora, Ont., on Tuesday, Det. Sgt. Stephen Beale said investigators had identified an online marketplace known as “Icy White North,” which sold drugs to customers across Canada through encrypted communication platforms since roughly 2022.

“This investigation has effectively toppled the Icy White North online drug trafficking network, which we believe was one of the most prolific Canada-based dark web drug suppliers at this time,” Beale said.

According to police, the operation was pulling in more than $100,000 a month, with proceeds reaching into the millions of dollars over four years. Orders were shipped to buyers through Canada Post’s regular mail system, police said.

What was seized

Police say they recovered roughly $3 million worth of drugs, including fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, MDMA, LSD and illicit prescription pills. Also seized: more than $1 million in luxury goods — cars, watches and designer purses — along with a firearm, tasers, electronic devices, and about $200,000 in cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin.

Chief Paulo Da Silva said it marked the first time in the force’s history it has seized cryptocurrency in an investigation. Beale said that’s no small feat.

“Cryptocurrency is incredibly difficult to seize. It’s not like finding a pile of cash in a room,” he said. “It exists on devices … sometimes just on the internet, and you need various seed phrases and passwords in order to access it.”

Five arrested, 81 charges laid

The investigation began in January and led to search warrants executed in February, including at a luxury penthouse condo in Mississauga, according to Beale.

Police arrested three men and two women: a 38-year-old man from Mississauga, a 23-year-old woman from Toronto, a 42-year-old man from Oakville, a 34-year-old man from Vaughan, and a 27-year-old woman from Brampton. Together they face 81 charges, including conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, trafficking controlled substances, and possession of a firearm. None of the charges have been proven in court.

A community toll

Da Silva said the case is a reminder of how fast the drug trade is evolving alongside technology. “While this type of trafficking isn’t new, the avenues in which these criminals are selling and transporting these illicit drugs are constantly changing,” he said. “What remains constant is the devastating impact drugs have on our community.”

York Region has recorded 10 overdose deaths and roughly 100 suspected overdose calls so far this year, Da Silva said.

“Apprehending these suspects and removing millions of doses of illegal drugs off the street has improved the safety of people here in York Region and beyond and has undoubtedly saved lives,” he said.

The dark web refers to a hidden layer of the internet that isn’t reachable through standard search engines or browsers, police noted.