A resident of Chapais, a town of 1,500 inhabitants in northern Quebec, was arrested with nearly eight kilograms of heroin at Trudeau Airport in Montreal on Thursday evening.
Posted at 6:46 p.m.
It is rather unusual for authorities to seize so much heroin at once.
According to sources, the resale value of one kilogram of heroin is around $80,000.
On the street, a 0.05 gram dose of heroin sells for $20, meaning the value of the drug seized could rise on the black market to around $3 million or double that when cut. .
Maurice Nadeau, 68, who lives on First Avenue in Chapais, was charged with importing heroin and possessing heroin for the purpose of trafficking Friday afternoon at the Montreal courthouse.
The prosecution, represented by Mr.and Samuel Tessier of the Federal Crown, opposed his release. The prosecutor served his defense counterpart with a notice of minimum two-year jail term.
Mr. Nadeau’s bail hearing has been postponed until next Monday, for form’s sake.
The accused, who would have no criminal record in Quebec according to a short search, remains detained until then. He is represented by a legal aid lawyer.
Emotion in sight in Chapais
According to our information, Mr. Nadeau was arriving from South Africa, after having stopped over in Qatar, when he was arrested by Canadian border services officers stationed at Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau International Airport.
They would have discovered the drug separated in two packets, in a suitcase which would have belonged to the accused.
Customs officers handed over the heroin to their colleagues at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who opened an investigation.
“This case will cause a commotion in Chapais and our citizens will ask us questions, that’s for sure. It’s a huge amount and I wonder how far this drug can be present in our territory. Next week, I will contact the Sûreté du Québec, ”said to The Press the new mayor of Chapais elected last November, Isabelle Lessard, who does not know Mr. Nadeau.
“However, I am relieved to know that all this drugs have been intercepted,” added the mayor of the small town located about 40 kilometers north of Chibougamau.
To reach Daniel Renaud, dial 514 285-7000, ext. 4918, write to [email protected] or write to the postal address of La Presse.