The police are launching an offensive against criminals who engage in extortion and attacks on businesses, which have been affected by at least 67 violent events since the last year in Montreal, Laval and on the North Shore .
“For us, it’s zero tolerance. We will not tolerate that our merchants be threatened or intimidated, or that there are acts of violence committed against them or their businesses, ”says Kimon Christopoulos, inspector at the Major Crimes Division of the Laval police.
Faced with the scale of the extortion phenomenon, the Laval police officers decided to join forces with those of the Montreal police officers and the Sûreté du Québec, in order to set up the Wick project.
Over the past year, several merchants have been victims of threats, armed attacks, arson, extortion or firearm discharges in their windows.
The vast majority of those targeted are “from the Arab community,” said Inspector Christopoulos, who is the project coordinator.
Money required
“What we have seen is that organized crime in the Near and Middle East, and the street gangs behind it,” he said, without wanting to give further details, in order to do not prejudice ongoing legal proceedings and investigations.
But, according to our information, the modus operandi was very simple. Business owners are approached by individuals from the underworld, who demand a sum of money, in exchange for a so-called protection service.
When they refuse to pay the criminalized individuals, the latter threaten them with death and allow the establishment to be set on fire.
“We are watching them”
Authorities have so far handcuffed 19 individuals in connection with such events. The charges are varied: possession of a weapon and ammunition, extortion, assault with a weapon, arson, possession of narcotics and breach of conditions.
Inspector Christopoulos is hopeful that the Wick project will yield even more results. Additional arrests could take place in the coming weeks, he warns.
“The message we have for those who attack our traders is that we have an eye on them,” says Kimon Christopoulos.
“We know, he continues, that street gangs are used to do the jobs [de bras]. But we work at all levels. Just because someone is higher in the hierarchy doesn’t mean they have to be comfortable. »
They are scared
Although they understand that the victims may be frightened, the police say they hope to obtain their cooperation and encourage them to share information, even anonymously.
“Traders are our eyes and ears, they must collaborate, report events and not keep it to themselves”, underlines the inspector.
In order to reassure the population, the police will show visibility by posting patrol cars in the sectors mainly targeted by bandits.
“But it is also possible that we deploy 14-15-16 police officers in unmarked vehicles, to cover these sectors, almost everywhere. We want to face this wave of violence and put an end to it”, illustrates Kimon Christopoulos.