The results of analyzes of the substance found in envelopes left overnight from Sunday to Monday in front of half a dozen residences on Île Jésus show that it was not dangerous, says the Laval Police Department.
According to our information, the envelopes contained a culinary ingredient.
The police did not want to confirm this information, so as not to harm the investigation, but continue, even if the product is not dangerous, to ask the population not to open such letters, if ever others are found.
“The return of the analyzes carried out on this substance revealed that it was a non-toxic, non-lethal product and which represented no danger to health. Although no new cases have been recorded today, the SPL reiterates the importance of not handling this type of suspicious content and of immediately calling 911 to report the situation,” the police said in a statement issued at the end of the afternoon.
The Laval residences, where a letter containing white powder was found Monday, were chosen at random, according to information obtained by The Press.
According to our information, one or two suspects with hidden faces left these envelopes in front of residences located in quiet neighborhoods in the Fabreville and Sainte-Rose sectors, during the night from Sunday to Monday, before fleeing.
“There is no link between the occupants of the targeted residences. It is not a particular person or group that is targeted,” he confirmed to The Press Lieutenant Geneviève Major of the Laval Police Department (SPL).
The message placed in the envelope would not be linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Rather, it was a matter of threatening remarks accompanied by a ransom demand – equivalent to around $25,000 according to our information – which was to be paid according to an indicated procedure.
According to information that we obtained but which was not confirmed by the SPL, the message suggested that the white powder contained in the envelopes is a lethal dose of fentanyl, an opioid 40 times more powerful than heroin, which is the cause of dozens of overdoses occurring in Montreal in recent years and which is wreaking havoc in other Canadian provinces.
The person who wrote the message allegedly threatened to attack an occupant of the house, or one of his relatives, if he did not comply.
The case was handed over to investigators from the SPL Major Crimes Division.
To contact Daniel Renaud, call 514 285-7000, ext. 4918, write to [email protected] or write to the postal address of The Press.