Ontario Provincial Police, in a joint operation with Windsor Police, have intercepted a record-breaking quantity of fentanyl destined for local streets, describing the haul as possessing lethal capacity equivalent to the entire population of a moderately sized city.
Project Rotherham's Massive Haul
The historic seizure resulted from Project Rotherham, a year-long investigation concluded on September 25, 2025. During coordinated raids on four Windsor residences and three vehicles, authorities discovered 46 kilograms of fentanyl—the largest fentanyl seizure in OPP history.
Detective Superintendent Pete Liptrott of the OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau emphasized the local threat, stating: "The evidence we've collected thus far indicates that the drugs were being trafficked domestically, that is, in the City of Windsor and the surrounding area." He confirmed investigators found no evidence suggesting the drugs were intended for distribution beyond Windsor-Essex.
Deadly Quantities and Additional Seizures
Police calculated the fentanyl seizure represents approximately 460,000 street-level doses with an estimated market value of $6.5 million. At 0.1 grams per typical "point" dosage, Liptrott described the quantity as "an amount capable of taking the lives of a moderately sized city."
The operation netted additional controlled substances including:
- 3.4 kg of suspected cocaine
- 1 kilogram of heroin
- 4,500 hydromorphone tablets
- 190 oxycodone tablets
- 360 morphine tablets
- 470 benzodiazepine tablets
- 35 amphetamine tablets
Investigators also confiscated over 181 kg of caffeine, commonly used as a cutting agent in drug processing, alongside digital scales and various drug paraphernalia.
Ongoing Investigation and Community Impact
While the November 14, 2025 announcement marked a significant milestone, Project Rotherham remains active. Authorities continue investigating whether the illicit drugs were manufactured locally or imported into the Windsor region.
This unprecedented seizure represents a major disruption to narcotics distribution networks supplying Windsor-Essex, preventing substantial quantities of deadly substances from reaching consumers and potentially saving countless lives in the community.
