Since very early Thursday morning, investigators from the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) have been making a series of arrests in order to dismantle a very active criminal organization in Montreal and close to the Hells Angels.
Posted at 7:02
At 3:30 a.m., investigators from the National Organized Crime Repression Squad (ENRCO), headed by the Sûreté du Québec, began arresting a dozen individuals, including one of the alleged leaders of this organization called Fratrum. , Seeyomak Salemi-Seyfeddin, also considered to be linked to the Near Middle Eastern organized crime (PMO).
These arrests are the second and final phase of the Percuter investigation, during which officers arrested Montreal Hells Angels chapter secretary Vincent Boulanger and several other individuals connected to the bikers on March 15. .
Salemi-Seyfeddin, Boulanger, and several of the other individuals arrested on Thursday and March 15 had been the subject of searches during the investigation.
The ENRCO sleuths had notably searched a combat school and businesses that certain suspects had in the building of the former Pro Gym, on rue Hochelaga, as well as luxury vehicle rental businesses, presumably to support evidence of drug trafficking and money laundering.
“The investigation tends to show that the individuals targeted belong to a Montreal consortium responsible for supplying cocaine to drug sales networks belonging to the Hells Angels across the province,” the SQ said in a press release.
According to a court document obtained by The Pressduring this investigation, investigators intercepted more than 210,000 communications, including more than 8,500 in Farsi, the language mainly spoken in Iran.
Thursday morning’s arrests take place in Montreal, Brossard, Sainte-Julie, Granby, Mirabel and at the Montreal Detention Facility, commonly known as Bordeaux.
The suspects have been or will be transported to the headquarters of the Sûreté du Québec in Montreal, from where they will appear later in the day, to face in particular charges of gangsterism and drug trafficking.
The Persian
Salemi-Seyfeddin, 28, was arrested at 3:30 a.m. by the Montreal Police Department’s Tactical Intervention Group (GTI), which broke into his condo on L’Île-des-Sœurs.
He offered no resistance and appeared smiling when The Press witnessed his arrest.
On September 20, 2019, Salemi-Seyfeddine was with several members of the Hells Angels at a boxing gala presented at the Center Pierre-Charbonneau.
He had notably been observed by the police accompanying the Hells Angels of Montreal Salvatore Brunetti.
The bikers had seats directly in the security zone surrounding the arena and the organizers of the event, New Era Fighting and Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM), had been summoned to the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux.
An SPVM Intelligence investigator had filed a report containing certain information on Salemi-Seyfeddine.
Nicknamed “Le Perse” or Mike, he had been described as a close friend of Vincent Boulanger and “a subject known to be very violent and unpredictable”.
Regularly investigated by members of Groupe Eclipse, these SPVM police officers specializing in the surveillance of bars and the collection of information on organized crime, Salemi-Seyfeddine had already challenged the police by asking them if they would line up behind the Hells Angels or the members of the Mexican cartels, if the latter came to impose themselves in Montreal.
Salemi-Seyfeddine has a criminal history of assault, aggravated assault, breach of conditions and breach of orders.
According to the police, Salemi-Seyfeddine would be a relative of Amir Firouz Salari, who was shot and wounded last October in the east of Montreal. According to our information, it could be a mistake on the person.
It would also be a Salemi-Seyfeddine soldier who would be behind an attempted murder against the late gang leader Arsène Mompoint in Montreal, in August 2019.
ENRCO’s mandate is to attack the heads of organized crime in Quebec.
To reach Daniel Renaud, dial 514 285-7000, ext. 4918, write to [email protected] or write to the postal address of The Press.