The three Ontario men accused of storing materials that could be made into explosives had been looking for money to back the production of a military system designed to prevent drone attacks.
The accused, Jerry Tong, Zekun Wang, and Fei (Frank) Han, had created videos to pitch the project, which include footage of a device that could be transported in the back of a pickup truck. The most recent video, viewed by CBC News, was uploaded on Oct. 25, 2025.
“We are building a mobile and low-cost system capable of detecting and defeating micro and mini uncrewed aerial systems,” Tong said in the one of the three videos, titled MORSLAB Pitch Presentation.
He goes on to explain that the group is “taking on the challenge of stopping weaponized drones armed with a hand grenade and small explosives.”
Tong, Wang and Fei, alongside Feiyang (Astrid) Ji who is not featured in the videos, are all facing charges stemming from a trespassing call that police received from Western University on Jan. 24, 2026.
After Tong and Wang were arrested, police spent days searching a nearby home where Wang, Fei and Ji lived. Their search expanded to two additional homes connected to Orleans and Gatineau, Que.
The group was subsequently charged with offences ranging from possession of a loaded restricted firearm, to firearms manufacturing and being in possession of high explosives and the chemicals used to make them.
In the videos that CBC News has verified were filmed in Western University’s Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavilion, Tong explains the drone defence system would be fully operation by August 2026.
He said the group is looking for funding from “several different military research development programs”, and is responding to “the Canadian Armed Forces and the NATO military demand”. He cites increasing use of drone warfare in Ukraine.
The videos contain multiple renderings and animations of the weapons system itself. Mounted on the back of a modified pickup truck, the system is said to detect drones using infrared sensors.
The accused claim the system would be capable of tracking and dispatching the drones by destroying their on-board electronics with bursts of microwaves radiation.
The pitch video shows clips of someone mixing chemicals in a flask, and of a fiery chemical reaction.
“We have our own chemical lab on site capable of synthesizing primary and secondary energetics,” Tong said.
Tong also said in the video, while showing a clip of Wang working on the system in the bed of a pickup truck that CBC News has verified was parked at 212 Chesham Pl., that the group had several vehicles equiped to test the system.
The pitch video also sheds light on the backgrounds of the three men accused in the crime.
Tong explains that he studied integrated engineering at Western University, during which he founded a 3D printing business that benefitted from the Western Accelerator program that funds young entrepreneurs and connects them with mentors.
“Currently, I work as a contractor investigating international fraud,” Tong said. A spokesperson at National Bank Financial confirmed he was once an employee.
Wang, who graduated from Western with a Master’s in Engineering Science, said he’s been the recipient of two awards funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. He explains it was “for designing and fabricating high speed motion controls and vacuum systems.”
Han, who confirms he graduated from Western with a Master’s of Engineering, specializing in mechanical and materials engineering, describes his involvement in the project as “handling the core electromagnetic analysis.”
He said he also focused on the [radio frequency] “simulation for our horn and slotted antennas.”
All four of the accused remain in police custody, with bail hearings scheduled in London court in the coming days.
The RCMP’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team, which works to counter terrorism and other national security threats, said Tuesday it was assisting London police with the investigation.
