Investigators of the new Quebec Centaur firearms strategy seized several firearms on Thursday, during searches carried out in more than one region in Quebec. But what also holds attention is the number of kilograms of cocaine they have got their hands on: more than 170, according to what sources told Press.
Most of this cocaine was seized in the area of rue Fontenay in Laval, as part of an investigation by the Mixed Regional Squad of the North Crown. According to our information, one of the individuals arrested by the investigators would have links with a member of the Hells Angels.
Handguns and equipment used to encode cryptocurrency were also reportedly seized by investigators during the search.
As part of ten different investigations, which have no connection between them, the investigators carried out Thursday about thirty searches in residences and vehicles in Montreal, Laval, Saint-Amable, Brownsburg-Chatham, Sainte-Anne- du-Lac, Saint-Gédéon-de-Beauce, Saint-Maurice, Mont-Joli and Price.
According to our information, in addition to the kilograms of cocaine – valued at at least 7 million on the black market before resale on the street – the sleuths have also seized dozens of long guns, a few handguns, silencers, chargers , ammunition, various amounts of other drugs and tens of thousands of dollars in cash. The Sûreté du Québec should provide a final report on the operation on Friday.
Even though these were first searches during an investigation, a few individuals were reportedly arrested, in particular for arms trafficking or drug trafficking.
“The operations are still ongoing. So far, the preliminary results are exceptional. These are files which, in most cases, started with information to the public and for which the investigation is very recent. In the case of the large cocaine seizure, we had an important partnership with the police department of the city of Laval, ”said Lieutenant Benoit Richard of the Sûreté du Québec.
A new telephone line
According to a compilation by Press, more than 130 incidents of shootings, attempted murders and murders by firearms, have occurred in Montreal, and about 24 in Laval, since the beginning of the year.
The Centaur strategy is made up of several investigative teams against organized crime and others including the Integrated Firearms Control Team (EILTA), the National Organized Crime Repression Squad (ENRCO) and the mixed regional squads ( ERM).
Centaur also launched Thursday a new confidential telephone line for anyone with information to communicate to the police in the context of the fight against firearms trafficking: 1-833-888-ARME (2763).
To reach Daniel Renaud, dial 514 285-7000, extension 4918, write to [email protected] or write to the postal address of Press.