A vast network of arms and narcotics trafficking which obtained its supplies in Toronto and then sold its stocks in the metropolis has just been dismantled by the Montreal police. Five suspects were arrested in the wake of the operation, while eight weapons and various quantities of drugs were seized.
Posted at 11:29
Updated at 11:39 a.m.
“The dismantled network was controlled from Montreal. The suspects apprehended were known to the SPVM. They would act in particular as suppliers to certain criminal street gangs, “said the Montreal police on Tuesday, adding that this network” was supplied in the Toronto area and then sold everything in Montreal and its surroundings.
This long investigation had been initiated more than a year ago, in June 2021, by the Antigang team of the Organized Crime Division of the Montreal police. In recent weeks, several searches have been carried out in seven residences and four vehicles located in Montreal, Laval, Mirabel, Brossard, Longueuil, Toronto and Richmond Hill.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY SPVM
One of the firearms seized.
At least seven handguns and an AR-15 assault rifle were seized by law enforcement. They also say they got their hands on “54 kg of cocaine, 46 kg of crystal methamphetamine (crystal meth), 168,500 tablets of methamphetamine, 36 kg of cannabis, various quantities of additional narcotics and no less than 1.3 million in cash”.
Five suspects arrested
Four men and a woman aged between 26 and 42 were arrested between May 26 and June 21, in connection with these searches.
The SPVM indicated on Tuesday that two of them, Sami Hashemi and Rudy Louis Étienne, are still being held for possession of firearms. The other three, whose identity has not yet been specified at this stage, “have been released pending further proceedings”
Several other police forces also collaborated in the investigation, including the York Regional Police Service, the Longueuil Agglomeration Police Service (SPAL) and the Mirabel Police Service (SPM).
However, investigative work is still ongoing. The authorities also invite anyone who has relevant information in connection with this case to contact 911, or even their neighborhood station. The Info-Crime Montreal center can also be reached anonymously and confidentially, by calling 514-393-1133, or by filling out an online form.
This all comes nearly a month after a “historic” seizure resulting from the dismantling of another major network for the production and distribution of amphetamines. A large search operation started in the early morning then gave rise to 26 searches in Montreal, Laval, Montérégie and the Laurentians. ” It’s our breaking Bad of Quebec”, had illustrated Francis Renaud, commander of the Organized Crime Division of the SPVM.
“Today, we see a historic search that cuts revenues that support the purchase of firearms,” said the mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante, at a press conference. She was delighted with the long-term work of the SPVM teams, saying she wanted to continue to fight against the increase in armed crimes in the short, medium and long term.