Toronto Star Links Former Pharmacist to Project South; OCP Record Details Licence Revocation

A Toronto Star report published October 4 links former Ontario pharmacist Sina Salehi to the Project South police-corruption investigation. For pharmacy teams, the independently documented part of the story is the Ontario College of Pharmacists’ disciplinary decision: the College revoked Salehi’s certificate of registration after findings spanning drug diversion, billing, recordkeeping and pharmacy operations at sites in Scarborough, Thornhill and Thunder Bay.

What the regulator found

The College says its Discipline Committee made findings of professional misconduct in a decision dated May 6, 2026, following an April hearing. Its published decision summary describes three notices of hearing. At GTA pharmacies, the panel found that Salehi diverted—or permitted, consented to or approved the diversion of—prescription drugs to unauthorized recipients or sources. It also found false or unsubstantiated claims for products not dispensed, dispensing without valid authorization, and failures involving narcotic inventory reconciliation and reporting or protection against loss or theft.

Separate findings concerning Neighbour’s Drug Mart in Thornhill included claims for products not dispensed and Ontario Drug Benefit claims that were not eligible for payment. At Family Health Pharmacy in Thunder Bay, the panel found periods when the pharmacy operated or supplied drugs without a pharmacist physically present, lapses in designated-manager coverage, deficiencies in narcotic counts and records, and diversion findings involving oxycodone products. The panel also found that Salehi attempted to mislead a College investigator about whether he had worked at the Thunder Bay site on a particular day.

After submissions on penalty in June, the panel ordered a reprimand, immediate revocation of his certificate of registration and $20,000 in costs. The College’s summary says he undertook not to practise pharmacy again or seek reinstatement in Canada. These are regulatory findings and an order—not a criminal conviction.

What remains separate from the College decision

The October 4 Star reporting supplies the new Project South angle. The College’s published disciplinary summary does not describe Project South or establish any particular connection to that investigation. Police-investigation claims and the College’s proven professional-misconduct findings should therefore not be merged into a single finding. Pharmasist has not independently reviewed the underlying Project South warrant materials; the nature of the reported link should be attributed to the Star until those records can be examined.

Practice guidance for pharmacists

• Keep narcotic and controlled-drug counts, reconciliations and related records current and retrievable; investigate discrepancies promptly.
• Escalate suspected loss or theft through the required reporting channels and document the steps taken to secure inventory.
• Check that claims reflect products actually dispensed and that each claim meets Ontario Drug Benefit eligibility rules.
• Ensure a pharmacist is present when required and that designated-manager responsibilities are covered before dispensing continues.
• When discussing this case with staff or patients, distinguish the College’s established findings from reporting about an ongoing police investigation.

The current development is the Star’s October 4 report; the College decision itself dates from earlier in 2026. Any further account of the Project South connection should be updated only after review of the relevant court record or a direct, attributable statement from investigators.

Sources

• Ontario College of Pharmacists, Discipline Decisions (August 2026): Sina Salehi — regulator's decision summary, published August 26, 2026.
• Toronto Star, “Toronto-area pharmacist tied to Project South loses licence” — original reporting, October 4, 2026.