‘Cocaine eyes’ to cash bribes: 5 revelations from Project South wiretaps

A police officer doing drugs before his shift, a trunk of police uniforms to sell, details on drug deals and plans to open massage parlours are some of the revelations Project South investigators allegedly captured through wiretaps as part of their sweeping corruption probe, according to newly reportable details from an Information to Obtain (ITO) application in the case.

A publication ban was lifted on those allegations, and many others, from the Project South ITO this week in a ruling from Ontario Superior Court Justice Laura Bird.

“The importance of public scrutiny in this case cannot be overstated. What is, perhaps, most concerning about the allegations of widespread police corruption in this case is the fact that the York Regional Police only stumbled upon it in the course of their investigation,” wrote Bird in her decision. 

The investigation began in June 2025, when York Regional Police thwarted an alleged plot to kill a senior corrections official from Toronto South Detention Centre (TSDC). Subsequently, police discovered that Toronto police Const. Timothy Barnhardt allegedly ran an unauthorized search on the official's licence plate less than a month before the attempted hit.

“There is no evidence that anyone was suspicious of Mr. Barnhardt or his associates until that moment," Bird wrote.

"That is something that should be of tremendous concern to the public because it demonstrates that a trusted public official can engage in widespread illegal conduct and go undetected.”

CBC News was part of a group of media organizations fighting to lift a publication ban on the ITO — which lays out months' worth of evidence police had compiled from wiretaps and other warrants.

The allegations in the ITO have not been tested in court, but many of the conversations intercepted by investigators paint a picture of the corruption investigators allege Barnhardt and other Toronto police officers and civilians engaged in over several months in 2025 and early this year before their arrests.

These are five of the most shocking conversations police intercepted.

In early October 2025, investigators intercepted Barnhardt buying cocaine from Const. Saurabjit Bedi in a Brampton, Ont., plaza, according to the ITO. Barnhardt’s vehicle was bugged with audio and video recording devices and investigators say the pair are “seen and heard weighing out the drugs and can be heard negotiating a price of $230 for Barnhardt to pay.” 

Afterward, Bedi called Barnhardt and the following exchange was captured, according to the portions of transcript in the ITO.

Bedi asked Barnhardt if he “looked f--ked up when you saw me? … cuz I’m going to daycare now.” 

Barnhard replied: “Just put your sunglasses on that’s all, you got … what do they call them … cocaine eyes.”

Const. Timothy Barnhardt is facing a long list of charges in connection with allegedly assisting organized crime. (@10rcop/X)From there police say the pair discussed drug dosages. 

In December 2025, the ITO said police also observed Bedi “consuming what appeared to be cocaine” in the parking lot of 12 Division before starting his shift.

Both Barnhardt and Bedi are charged with trafficking cocaine. None of the charges against them have been tested in court yet. Barnhardt’s lawyer declined to comment on allegations from the ITO and Bedi’s did not respond to a request for comment.

Police intercepted Barnhardt and Bedi drinking and doing drugs in late November 2025 while discussing plans for a marijuana dispensary and a massage parlour, according to the ITO. 

Bedi explained to Barnhardt that he has “girls,” and “all they want is protection and safety and we get their cuts.” He also allegedly told Barnhardt it would be better to use hotels. 

Investigators say Barnhardt then clarified to Bedi he was not talking about escorts, but rather massage parlours. 

Both men are charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice and breach of trust. 

In late October 2025, investigators intercepted a meeting between Barnhardt and civilian Brian Da Costa in Barnhardt’s vehicle. Da Costa is the one who allegedly paid Barnhardt to “routinely” run unauthorized database searches, including the one on the senior corrections official. 

But on this night, the ITO says Da Costa paid Barnhardt cash for police uniform items that Barnhardt had in his trunk. 

Brian Da Costa is accused of paying Toronto cop Timothy Barnhardt to run unauthorized police database searches. (Pam Davies/CBC)This is a transcript of the conversation included in the ITO:

Barnhardt: "What about all this s--t in the f--king trunk man…?"

Da Costa: "Oh s--t yeah my bad f--k; I forgot for a second what you were trying to hand me."

Barnhardt: "I'm like what the f--k 36, 38, 40 are the pants, and the f--king NCO pants are in here too, there is like 1, 2 ,3 jackets.... l got the other jacket I just gotta pick up with the toque and everything."

Da Costa: "I might qet a couple of bucks for this s--t and get more, okay?"

Barnhardt: "I’m gonna get you the hats and ball caps."

Da Costa: "We gotta go get the badges and s--t okay?"

Then, police said Da Costa was observed handing money to Barnhardt, while counting each bill aloud.

Da Costa: "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10."

Barnhardt: "You are the f--king best, man."

Both men are charged with trafficking police uniforms. Da Costa remains in custody. His lawyer declined a request for comment on the ITO allegations.

In early September 2025, Da Costa was intercepted asking Barnhardt if he wanted to partner with him opening a massage parlour, according to the ITO. 

Barnhardt: "Oh f--k bro I’ve been trying to do that myself ... l just didn’t have the link for the women" [...] “I’ll put all my effort towards that, f--k it, a hundred percent.... I'm excited."

Da Costa allegedly jokes about receiving free services at the proposed massage parlour, to which the ITO says Barnhardt replied he would be there daily. 

The inside of Toronto South Detention Centre is pictured here in this 2013 file photo. (Patrick Morrell/CBC)‘Inflammatory’ conversation still under pub banThere is one conversation transcript in the ITO that Justice Bird decided to keep under a pub ban. It involves Barnhardt and Da Costa. 

“The comments attributed to Mr. Barnhardt are particularly inflammatory and memorable,” wrote Bird in her decision. 

“I am satisfied that they are the type of comments that could create an indelible impression of guilt in the minds of potential jurors that could not be dealt with by resort to alternative measures.”

Elsewhere in the ITO, CBC News previously reported that police say Barnhardt “explicitly stated that he did not care if individuals were harmed” as a result of information he sold to Da Costa from database searches.

York Regional Police Deputy Chief Ryan Hogan speaks about Project South, an investigation into organized crime and corruption involving police, at York Regional Police headquarters in Aurora, Ont., on Feb. 5. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)This ITO was used by police to obtain more than 50 search warrants in the Project South investigation in early February. 

The search warrants were executed as investigators arrested and charged seven Toronto police officers, one retired cop and 19 civilians in Project South. The charge against one of those civilians has since been stayed, and one of the officers retired and pleaded guilty to two charges in July.

The charges against the others accused in Project South have not yet been tested in court.

Nicole Brockbank is a reporter for CBC Toronto's Enterprise Unit. She digs up, researches and reports GTA-focused investigative and enterprise stories. nicole.brockbank@cbc.ca