A man in his thirties was seriously injured during an armed attack early Saturday morning in Thetford Mines. This would be a new event linked to the war of organized crime, in the greater Quebec region, for control of the drug trade.
It was around 3:30 a.m. that police officers from the MRC des Appalaches of the Sûreté du Québec were called to go to a residence on rue Saint-Nazaire. The initial call mentioned an armed attack.
Once there, the police located a man in his thirties “who had suffered significant injuries, which however did not endanger his life,” said agent Hélène St-Pierre, spokesperson for the SQ. The victim was allegedly beaten by one or more suspects, who fled before the authorities arrived.
Several investigators as well as forensic identification technicians were called to the scene to assess the scene. A security perimeter has been erected and local traffic stopped, but no arrests have yet been made.
“Everything suggests that it would be linked to the violent events that we have seen in eastern Quebec recently,” continued M.me St Pierre.
Friday, during a press briefing held in Quebec, the SQ raised its voice and declared that the war between bikers and street gang members in the region has lasted long enough. The police force says it fears for the safety of civilians if the conflict continues.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESS
Lieutenant Benoît Richard, spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec, provided an update on Friday following arrests linked to organized crime in Montmagny.
An ongoing war for control of the drug trade has already reportedly resulted in fires, two hostage situations and a murder. The regions of Quebec, Chaudière-Appalaches, Bas-Saint-Laurent and Côte-Nord are affected.
On Friday, police arrested three suspects in Montmagny in connection with the hostage-taking which resulted in one death and three injuries earlier this week in Saint-Malachie. The two men, aged 22 and 38, and the 37-year-old woman must appear this Saturday at the Quebec courthouse.
An “attack force” was set up, said Lieutenant Benoit Richard, spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec, in order to show criminals that “enough is enough”. SQ agents from several regions participate in several operations, as do municipal police officers from Quebec, Saguenay and Lévis. In addition to searches, visits to licensed establishments are also carried out in a targeted manner.
According to several sources, the conflict in the Quebec region involves members of the Blood Family Mafia (BFM) street gang, which is allegedly led by a trafficker and pimp, Dave “Pic” Turmel, aged 27.
During an indeterminate period, the latter would have operated in Lévis, with the blessing of the Hells Angels, but he would have fallen out with them after having started to obtain cocaine from a gang in the Montreal region. According to our information, Turmel’s group also stole several kilograms of cocaine from a cache controlled by the Hells Angels.
The conflict in a few dates
- February 19 : A man loses his life and three others are injured during a kidnapping and sequestration case in which the suspects are believed to be members of the BFM street gang.
- February 22 : A man from Saguenay who was missing since the day before was found in the middle of the night, on a sidewalk in the Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie borough, in Montreal. He is seriously injured in the body and has a toe and a finger cut off.
- February 22 : A man is seriously injured during an armed attack in Montmagny. The victim was transported to hospital, but his condition stabilized and he was released in the evening.
- February 23 : The Sûreté du Québec holds a press briefing to try to calm things down, by warning organized crime that it will intensify its presence and that the increase in tension must stop, for the safety of the population.
- February 24 : A new armed attack occurs, this time in Thetford Mines. There is no fear for the victim’s life.
With Gabriel Béland and Daniel Renaud, The Press