Three Toronto men face 85 criminal charges in gun and drug trafficking investigation

Three Toronto men are facing a total of 85 criminal charges following a months-long investigation into cocaine trafficking in the Greater Toronto Area.

Halton police say the investigation, dubbed “Project Medusa,” was led by the Organized Crime Unit and culminated on October 17 and 18 with the arrest of the suspects and the execution of four search warrants in the Toronto area.

As a result of the investigation, police seized a significant amount of drugs, including seven kilos of cocaine, half a kilo of crystal methamphetamine, half a kilo of fentanyl and 678 Oxycodone tablets.

Police also seized nine firearms, $60,000 in bundled cash and a refinished Mercedes driven by one of the suspects.

Police allege the suspects were involved in “the distribution of illegal drugs, primarily cocaine, in the Halton area and the surrounding GTA.”

“Project Medusa is an example of the Halton Regional Police Service’s continued commitment to community safety,” said Supt. Dave Stewart said in a press release. “Through painstaking investigations over several months, our officers successfully removed nine illegal firearms and a large quantity of illegal drugs from our streets. The successful completion of Project Medusa has undoubtedly made the Halton region and the GTA a safer place for everyone.”

Police say Abdulwahab Shiekh, 29, faces 65 charges, while Trevor Beriault, 33, faces 19 charges and Michael Estrada Souza, 31, faces a single charge of possession of property obtained by crime.

Police say the investigation is ongoing and “additional charges are expected.”