Newly unsealed court documents reveal that a failed attempt to murder a jail guard at Toronto South Detention Centre may have been orchestrated by an inmate linked to an alleged cocaine kingpin, with assistance from the guard’s former girlfriend, a correctional officer at the facility. The attempt on the guard’s life in June 2025 has been a significant element in the broad Project South police corruption investigation, which has led to charges against multiple Toronto Police officers and civilians.
Project South, announced in February 2026, is one of the largest police corruption probes in Canadian history. It involves allegations of bribery, drug trafficking, and conspiracy to commit murder. The investigation uncovered that organized crime figures allegedly obtained confidential police data to target individuals for shootings and other criminal activities.
According to the court documents, investigators traced the murder attempt back to Gurpreet Singh, a 32-year-old inmate held at Toronto South Detention Centre since October 2024. Singh faces extradition to the United States on charges tied to running a fentanyl and cocaine smuggling network for Ryan Wedding, an alleged drug lord. The documents suggest Singh may have directed the attack via both external collaborators and inside assistance from Nishwant Dosanjh, a correctional officer and his former romantic partner.
Detective Constable Antonio D’Onofrio, in warrant applications submitted in January, outlined evidence indicating Singh allegedly orchestrated the June 18, 2025 attack on the guard through contacts inside and outside the jail. The documents cite multiple extended private interactions between Singh and Dosanjh within the facility, raising suspicions that she facilitated access to sensitive information and contraband. Dosanjh has denied any wrongdoing, and her lawyer emphasized her full cooperation and innocence. She has been on paid leave since February.
The investigation further alleges that Dosanjh took photographs of the targeted guard’s vehicle license plate in the jail parking area and passed the image to Singh. Subsequently, a Toronto police constable, Timothy Barnhardt, allegedly used law enforcement databases to gather personal information about the guard, which investigators believe was part of the conspiracy. Barnhardt faces 17 charges, including conspiracy, but is not charged with murder conspiracy. He has declined to comment.
The alleged attackers—two youths and a 28-year-old man—were intercepted near the guard’s residence and charged with conspiracy to commit murder. The guard had informed investigators that he was well aware of animosities directed toward him from various inmates, including Singh.
In late 2025 and early 2026, Project South investigators intensified their probe with extensive searches of residences, vehicles, and businesses tied to the case. Although Singh refused to answer questions during police interviews, surveillance efforts included attempts to monitor communication between him and Dosanjh. However, audio recordings were largely unintelligible and not usable as evidence.
The Ministry of the Solicitor-General, responsible for provincial jails, declined to comment on the ongoing investigation. York Regional Police confirmed that inquiries related to Project South are continuing. The materials currently available reflect allegations yet to be tested in court, and several individuals identified in the documents are not charged. Lawyers for Singh and Dosanjh have cautioned against drawing conclusions prior to trial.