Toronto: In a covert operation targeting a firearm trafficking ring operating across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Peel Regional Police seized 23 firearms, 951 rounds of ammunition, and 824.75 grams of cocaine. Four individuals have been arrested in connection with the case.
The massive cache of weapons was uncovered following an undercover investigation dubbed “Project Red Zone,” which ran from October 2025 to July 2026. The probe was conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario (CISO).
Forensic testing revealed that one of the seized firearms was linked to a March 2024 homicide in Mississauga, which left one person dead and another critically injured.
Investigation showed that 15 of the 23 seized firearms originated from the United States, with several classified as prohibited weapons in Canada. Furthermore, police stated that forensic analysis tied some of these weapons to 14 separate shooting incidents across the Greater Toronto Area.
As part of the investigation, police arrested Stephen Prakash Gonsala (24) of Scarborough, Akshaya Sreekanthan (24) of Ajax, Sami Sheikh (28) of Mississauga, and Janoj Dhayabaran (23) of Toronto. They face a total of 58 criminal charges, including international weapons trafficking, drug distribution, and possession of prohibited firearms.
Authorities noted that Peel Regional Police have seized 125 crime-related firearms so far this year. Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich highlighted that inter-agency cooperation and intelligence-based investigations are critical in combating illegal firearm trade.
Police urge anyone with additional information regarding the investigation to contact the Peel Regional Police Specialized Enforcement Bureau at 905-453-2121, extension 3515.
