As law enforcement officials unveiled one of the largest drug seizures by weight in Ontario history Thursday, border and municipal leaders said the timing reinforces the importance of the Gordie Howe International Bridge’s advanced security systems ahead of its opening to traffic next week. The comments came after police announced the results of Project Bay, a cross-border investigation that began in Windsor and led to the seizure of nearly 1.7 tonnes of suspected cocaine, methamphetamine and opium, 17 firearms — including a rare anti-tank rifle — and more than $139 million worth of illegal drugs. With the new international crossing scheduled to open to vehicles Monday, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Regional Director General Michael Prosia said officers are prepared to begin operations. “The team is ready. We are incredibly excited at the CBSA to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge,” Prosia said following Thursday’s news conference. He said the agency has spent years preparing for the crossing, training new border services officers at ports of entry across southern Ontario while helping design and equip the new inspection plaza with modern screening and detection technology. “It’s really a lot of pride for the officers that are there,” Prosia said. “We’re really excited to start accepting traffic as of Monday.” Prosia said intelligence gathered through Project Bay also demonstrated how border enforcement has evolved beyond traditional inspections. While some referrals are based on officer observations and experience, he said many of the seizures tied to the investigation resulted from intelligence shared among policing and border agencies. “Our ability to work smarter, not harder, and making more intelligent referrals that are based on intelligence from our partners, I think that’s what helps Canadians know that we are targeting the right thing,” Prosia said. He added that the approach also helps facilitate the movement of legitimate commercial goods while focusing enforcement efforts on high-risk shipments. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said Thursday’s announcement illustrates why the new crossing was built with advanced technology capable of improving both trade efficiency and border security. “We’ve said from the beginning the Gordie Howe bridge would be the bridge with the most amount of technology embedded into it in order to clear trucks faster, but also be able to identify the types of things that we’re seeing behind me right now,” Dilkens said, gesturing toward the display of seized drugs, firearms, and cash. “I can’t wait for the Gordie Howe bridge to open. I know the technology is there, and we know we have good law enforcement partners, including the Windsor Police Service, who coordinate well with the OPP and CBSA and RCMP to help get these drugs and guns off the streets,” he said. Project Bay began as a Windsor Police Service investigation in January 2025 before expanding into a multi-agency operation involving the Ontario Provincial Police, Canada Border Services Agency, Toronto Police Service, Peel Regional Police and U.S. law enforcement partners. Investigators allege organized crime groups used a broker-style model within the commercial trucking industry to move illegal drugs across the Canada-U.S. border. Officials emphasized Thursday that while sophisticated criminal organizations continue to adapt, they believe the combination of intelligence-led investigations and enhanced technology at border crossings will strengthen efforts to disrupt cross-border smuggling. The Gordie Howe International Bridge is scheduled to officially open to commercial and passenger vehicle traffic on Monday, with a dedicated multi-use path for pedestrians and cyclists expected to open Aug. 5.
