A little over 60 kg of cocaine hidden in a grand piano: a drug trafficking story as worrying as it is unusual will cost a resident of Saint-Denis-de-Brompton seven years in prison.
Michaël Dubois entered a quick guilty plea to possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking Thursday morning. A piano loaded with drugs had been delivered to his garage last July. He helped unload the musical instrument, which he was clearly waiting for.
He was therefore sentenced to 7 years in prison, a proposal from his lawyer M.e Christian Raymond and the prosecutor Me Haoua Diallo. The joint suggestion was ratified by Judge Bruno Leclerc at the Joliette courthouse.
PHOTO FILED IN COURT
The American authorities immediately contacted the RCMP, who recovered the piano and the drugs, and carried out tests which came back positive for cocaine.
It was last July that the RCMP’s C Division (Quebec) announced the seizure of 62 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a grand piano that had left Colombia.
The drugs were first spotted by the US Homeland Security Investigations, which intercepted the musical instrument in Miami. US authorities immediately contacted the RCMP, who recovered the piano and the drugs, and conducted tests that came back positive for cocaine.
Investigators then replaced the coke by another substance and obtained warrants to install alarm, tracking and listening devices in the piano.
They then carried out a controlled delivery, and it was even a police double agent who delivered the large package to Saint-Félix-de-Valois on the morning of July 11.
An “opportunity” to make money
Michaël Dubois has no history of drug abuse, Mr.e Raymond. He highlighted his client’s life path, which was full of pitfalls. After living as a homeless teenager, he was working as a manager, earning a good living.
His income has dropped significantly during the pandemic, the defense explained. “In a time of discouragement, he had an opportunity,” Mr.e Raymond.
These details, however, did not move Judge Leclerc.
PHOTO FILED IN COURT
The view that was offered to the police when they entered the garage of the Saint-Denis-de-Brompton property.
“That’s a funny opportunity your client has taken there… a piano full of narcotics,” he replied to the defense.
Mr. Dubois’ co-accused in this case had all been arrested for importation and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking by the RCMP. They are Billy Donais-Cadieux, 44, of Saint-Félix-de-Valois, Pablo Hernandez, 52, of Pointe-Claire, and Juan Diego Hernandez, 28, of Laval.
With Daniel Renaud
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