Sentencing hearing for London man involved in one of Canada’s largest drug seizures

The Crown and defense have asked for 17 years for a man who plead guilty to one of the largest drug busts in Canada.

It was deemed to be one of the largest drug seizures in Canada after a long list of narcotics, including 15 kilograms of fentanyl, and three kilograms of cocaine, were seized.

In a London courtroom on Thursday, the court heard that the estimated street value of the seized drugs was around $3.2 million.

At the time officers in Sarnia and London said it was bound to put a dent in the drug trafficking business in the region.

In an agreed statement of facts the court heard that the investigation began in 2022, when OPP received information that an unidentified male nicknamed ‘Osama’ was trafficking cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine in London and Sarnia.

Undercover officers eventually confirmed the identity of ‘Osama’ as 24-year-old Taymoor Pasha.

In January, 2023 officers quickly moved in two addresses - one on Mornington Avenue, and another on Cheapside Street. At an address on Cheapside police arrested Pasha, and seized the drugs.

The court heard that Pasha travelled between London and the border in Sarnia to conduct his business.

In November, Pasha pled guilty to one count of possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking.

At the sentencing hearing on Thursday, Pasha was remorseful telling Justice Michael Carnegie, “I made the biggest mistake of my life… for the shameful actions I committed.”

In a joint submission, Federal Crown Vince Mazza and defence lawyer Ricardo Golec are asking that Pasha receive a 17-year prison sentence.

Justice Carnegie is expected to hand down his decision on April 17.