The police may have seized hundreds of firearms and made multiple arrests since last fall as part of Operation Centaur, but the shootings continue. Montreal was the scene of three shootings on Wednesday evening and the police recognize that there is still a lot of work to be done. Summer could be hot.
The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) and its partners, including the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), the Service de police de la Ville de Québec (SPVQ), the Service de police de Laval (SPL) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), provided an update on Thursday on the activities of Centaur, the Quebec strategy to combat armed violence put in place by Quebec last September.
Since the launch of Centaure last fall, Quebec police forces have seized 394 firearms and made 426 arrests. Close to 100 firearms investigation files are considered active. The SQ also seized seven 3D printers used for the manufacture of weapons. “85% of the weapons seized as part of the strategy are handguns,” said Benoit Richard, communications coordinator for the Centaur strategy.
Most of the weapons seized come from the United States and can sell for up to ten times the initial price, or between $3,000 and $8,000 when they end up on Quebec territory.
Less “organized” crime
For months, shootings have been increasing in the metropolitan area. Earlier this week, the SPVM and the SPL unveiled data showing a significant increase in crimes against persons involving firearms last year.
Events of armed violence are more frequent, gaining in intensity and taking place in broad daylight in public spaces. This crime seems less “organized” than before, stems from acts of revenge or retaliation on the part of individuals involved in arms trafficking, pimping and fraud. And the weapons circulate among a younger population, note the police. “It’s extremely worrying to see that there are still people who carry out shootings like that in broad daylight,” admits Benoit Richard when asked about the three shootings that occurred Wednesday evening in Montreal in less than six hours.
Social networks are now the “hottest ground” for firearms in Montreal, admit the police. They are “glorified” there and the virtual exchanges lead to violent acts on the ground. “We are going to see disproportionate reactions to words on social networks. Often, it will be following a quarrel or a brawl that starts there and will lead to an attack afterwards, ”summarizes Benoit Richard.
A hot summer?
There is still a lot of work to be done, admit the representatives of the police forces. An amount of 200 million dollars has been invested in the fight against armed violence within the framework of the activities of Centaure which does not limit its actions to repression, but also works in prevention and research. Over the next few months, police plan to increase their efforts, but expect another busy summer although they hope to see a downturn in gun violence.
Quebec also announced new investments Thursday morning to intensify its fight against smugglers. Public Security Minister Geneviève Guilbault unveiled $6.2 million over five years to provide the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service with five additional police officers, a new boat and all-weather vehicles. -field to counter the illegal supply of firearms in this territory.