Four men arrested, 24 guns seized in Halton police drug trafficking investigation

Halton police have arrested four men and seized 24 handguns alongside over $700,000 worth of illicit substances, marking the service’s largest-ever firearms seizure.

The investigation, dubbed Project Cyprus, was launched in November 2025 – targeting members of a “high-level drug trafficking network” operating throughout Halton, Toronto, York and Durham region.

The Halton Regional Police Service Chief Stephen Tanner says this seizure represents a substantial disturbance to the flow of illegal weapons entering local communities.

“The fact that all 24 firearms originated in the United States highlights the continued threat posed by cross-border firearms trafficking. These are dangerous weapons that were destined for our streets,” said Tanner in a media release.

According to authorities, investigators obtained 75 judicial authorizations and executed nine search warrants at residences and vehicles in Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Toronto and Oshawa over the course of six months.

As a result, the following was seized:

• 24 handguns (12 prohibited and 12 restricted)
• 20 prohibited over-capacity magazines and ammunition
• 16.5 kilograms of cocaine (estimated street value: $363,000)
• More than 16,000 Oxycodone tablets (estimated street value: $320,000)
• 3,000 mL of liquid Hydrocodone (estimated street value: $30,000)
• 10,500 mL of liquid Codeine (estimated street value: $15,000)
• More than $375,000 in bundled Canadian currency and cryptocurrency

Officers say the investigation into the origins of the firearms continues despite authorities confirming all 24 handguns came from the United States.

As a result of the probe, four men have been arrested and are facing more than 30 criminal charges.

Tevin Moulton, 31, of Oshawa has been charged with the following:

• Possession of a Controlled Substance (Cocaine) for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Firearms for the Purpose of Weapons Trafficking
• Possession of a Prohibited Device for the Purpose of Weapons Trafficking
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
• Possession of a Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
• Possession of Prohibited Weapon, Device or Ammunition Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
• Careless Storage of Firearms
• Possession of Prohibited Firearms
• Being in possession of a Weapon Contrary to an Order

Duo Chao “Jason” Xue, 29, 0f Richmond Hill is facing the following charges:

• Possession of a Controlled Substance (Cocaine) for the Purpose of Trafficking (two counts)
• Trafficking a controlled substance (Cocaine)
• Fail to Comply with Release Order (two counts)
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000

Sebastian Machado, 26, of Toronto has been charged with the following:

• Possession of a Controlled Substance (Cocaine) for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Trafficking in Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (Oxycodone) for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (Hydrocodone) for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (Codeine) for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000 (three counts)

Todd Woodman, 36, of Mississauga has been charged with the following offences:

• Possession of a Controlled Substance (Cocaine) for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Trafficking a controlled substance (Cocaine)
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (Oxycodone) for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (Hydrocodone) for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (Codeine) for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000

Anyone with information they believe is relevant to this investigation is asked to contact police at 905-825-4777, ext. 2216.

Those wishing to submit information anonymously can do so through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or via their website.

WATCH MORE: Three Hamilton men arrested in New York State after police seize 89 guns