Winnipeg: Project Hydrogen: Interprovincial Drug Trafficking Probe Leads to Winnipeg Arrests, Seizures, and Charges

December 15, 2025

Content Advisory – Information contained in our media releases may relate to issues of violence or trauma, which could be distressing for some individuals. Be mindful of your well-being and consider whether or not engaging with this content is appropriate for you.

Investigation Details and What Police Allege

WINNIPEG / GTA — Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) say Project Hydrogen began early in 2025 as a Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) Gun and Gang Unit investigation into a GTA-based drug trafficking operation linked to an Ontario-based gang known as “44.”

Police allege members and associates travelled to Winnipeg to set up a trafficking operation.

WPS say they were asked to assist in August 2025, and by October 2025 investigators determined express courier services were being used to ship illicit drugs from the GTA to Winnipeg.

Police report they intercepted packages on November 13 and November 20, seizing about 2,600 hydromorphone pills with an estimated street value of $18,900.

Search Warrants and Seizures

WPS report that on December 11, 2025, with DRPS and other agencies across Ontario, officers executed search warrants at a suite in the 1–99 block of Edmonton Street and an associated vehicle. Two men were arrested, and police say they seized:

150 grams of cocaine (est. $10,000)
3,000 hydromorphone pills (est. $21,000)
Two iPhones
296 grams of cutting agent (est. $500)
$900 cash
Fake identification allegedly used to facilitate shipments
A scale and packaging materials

Charges Laid

WPS say the following charges were laid:

Soufaine Chahid (19), of Scarborough:

Conspiracy to traffic in scheduled substance — hydromorphone (x2)
Possession of a scheduled substance for the purpose of trafficking — cocaine
Possession of a scheduled substance for the purpose of trafficking — hydromorphone
Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000

Alijah Victor Ryan Canning (21), of Scarborough:

Possession of a scheduled substance for the purpose of trafficking — cocaine
Possession of a scheduled substance for the purpose of trafficking — hydromorphone
Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000

Police say both men were detained in custody.
All allegations remain before the court and have not been proven.

What These Charges Mean

Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking

Under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), it is an offence to possess a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (selling, giving, transporting, delivering, etc.).

Conspiracy to Traffic

A conspiracy charge alleges two or more people agreed to commit an offence. In Canadian law, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence is prosecuted under Criminal Code s. 465, and the maximum punishment can match the underlying indictable offence.

Possession of Proceeds of Crime Under $5,000

This generally refers to possessing property or money believed to be obtained through crime, where the value is $5,000 or less. Punishment provisions are set out in Criminal Code s. 355.

Potential Penalties if Convicted

CDSA Trafficking / Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine, Hydromorphone)

For substances in Schedule I or II, a conviction for trafficking or possession for the purpose of trafficking carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Conspiracy to Traffic (Hydromorphone)

For conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, the Criminal Code provides that the offender is liable to the same punishment as for the underlying indictable offence. If the underlying offence is CDSA trafficking/possession for trafficking of a Schedule I substance, that means the maximum can also be life imprisonment.

Possession of Proceeds Under $5,000

If prosecuted by indictment, the maximum penalty is up to 2 years imprisonment.
If prosecuted by summary conviction, the general maximum penalty is up to 2 years less a day and/or a fine up to $5,000, unless another penalty is specified.

Sentencing is case-specific. Judges consider the facts, the person’s background, and aggravating/mitigating factors.

Community Safety

How to Recognize Possible Signs of Drug Trafficking

There’s no single “sure sign,” and many innocent situations can look suspicious. But police often encourage residents to watch for patterns, such as:

Frequent short-stay visitors at all hours (especially quick drop-ins)
High turnover of vehicles stopping briefly
Repeated meetups that look like quick exchanges
Strong chemical smells or unusual disposal of packaging materials
Residents appearing to be under coercion, intimidation, or ongoing conflict

Important: Do not approach or confront anyone. Your safety comes first.

How to Report Concerns Safely

If you believe there is immediate danger, call 9-1-1.

For non-urgent concerns:

Contact your local police non-emergency line and share what you observed (dates/times, general descriptions, and why it seemed unusual).
If you want to remain anonymous, use Crime Stoppers in your area.

When reporting, focus on facts (what you saw and when), not assumptions about who is involved.

The Last Word: Project Hydrogen: WPS/DRPS drug probe leads to arrests, seizures and charges; penalties explained.