Raid on Six Nations of the Grand River nets 25,000 kg in contraband tobacco

A major investigation on Six Nations of the Grand resulted in the seizure of thousands of kilograms of tobacco, drugs and firearms. Jeff Pickel reports.

Ontario Provincial Police say more than 25,000 kg of contraband tobacco was seized during a raid on Six Nations of the Grand River.

The street value has been estimated at $6.29 million.

On May 7, multiple enforcement agencies conducted a search warrant at a property on Chiefswood Road, between 3rd Line and 4th Line.

OPP said in addition to tobacco and cigarettes, they found more than 1,360 lbs. of illegal cannabis and a “large quantity” of illegal cannabis products. They were valued at approximately $3 million.

The team also seized approximately 3.16 kg of psilocybin, worth about $31,600, multiple skids of contraband tobacco packing material and 15 guns.

No details have been released about any possible charges laid in connection with the operation.

OPP said their investigation with the Six Nations Police Service, called Project PANDA, began in February 2025.

“This investigation involved a tobacco manufacturing facility operated by members of a non-Indigenous criminal network who do not reside on the territory,” a media release said. “The profits were not invested in or utilized by the community.”

On March 21 and March 27, police executed search warrants on vehicles that left the manufacturing facility in Six Nations. Inside they found approximately 11.1 million contraband cigarettes. OPP said they had an estimated street value of $2.8 million.

The raid on May 7 included properties in Ancaster, Brantford and Six Nations. Multiple enforcement agencies were involved, including: the OPP’s Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, Six Nations Police Service, OPP Emergency Response Team, OPP Tactics and Rescue Unit, Brant County OPP Crime Unit, OPP Provincial Liaison Team, Highway 407 OPP, Burlington OPP, Haldimand OPP, OPP Digital Forensics and Forensic Identification Services, as well as OPP Community Street Crime Units in Haldimand and Norfolk County, Perth County, Huron County, Brant County and Elgin/Middlesex.

OPP said their investigation into the criminal network is ongoing.

Anyone with information that can help officers is asked to contact OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

Obstruction charge

Only one person is known to have been arrested in the May 7 raid.

Six Nations Police said Francois Cadieux, a 47-year-old man from Oakville, Ont., was charged with obstructing a police officer.

He allegedly slashed the tires of a vehicle parked in the driveway of the Chiefswood Road property.

Police said it was done for the purpose of “intentionally blocking the entranceway.”

Contraband concerns

Chris Lewis, a public safety analyst for CTV News, calls contraband tobacco a major problem.

“Some they may think, this is pretty innocent, they made some money off tobacco, but it’s not, this is organized crime. They do awful things in communities,” he explained. “They’re making a pile of money doing this.”

In the end, Lewis added, “This is helping finance bigger and more dangerous activities.”

Jeff Brownlee, a vice-president with the Convenience Industry Council of Canada, shared his concerns.

“People don’t want to pay a $180 for a carton of cigarettes, they would rather pay $50 or $60,” he said. “It’s a very lucrative industry and organized crime is taking notice of this.”

The illegal market also impacts legitimate businesses.

“The bad actors that are pushing contraband tobacco, they’re not asking for ID and they’re selling it out of the back of a truck,” Brownlee explained. “We want a level playing field is really what we’re looking for.”

- With reporting from Jeff Pickel