(Montreal) Wednesday, 3 a.m. Montreal is still asleep, plunged into darkness. But in the building that houses the SPVM’s Organized Crime Division, investigators are awake and alert. They have their eyes glued to the many screens, tables and charts that line the walls and the office. Today is the culmination of nine months of investigation: the dismantling of a major amphetamine production and distribution network.
Updated yesterday at 6:56 p.m.
This search operation, which began in the early morning, gave rise to 26 searches in Montreal, Laval, Montérégie and the Laurentians. “It’s our Quebec breaking bad,” says Francis Renaud, commander of the SPVM’s Organized Crime Division.
Production equipment lugged around in cubic trucks, millions of tablets distributed en masse to young party-goers, chemical products hidden in warehouses that blend into the landscape of the northern crown of Montreal. We are dealing with a major network.
Over 6.5 million tablets worth approximately $32.5 million have been seized so far.
“It’s unheard of in Quebec,” says Commander Renaud.
In a mini-warehouse that does not look like much, we find 500 kilos of methamphetamine powder on Wednesday.
The police do not lack work on this radiant morning: they handle empty barrels stained with powder, collect dozens of punches with various patterns: shells, hearts.
At the bottom of the room, a huge mixer, used to mix chemicals.
The network had the particularity of moving its encapsulation and production laboratories. Everything was packed on site.
It is estimated that they have sold a million tablets of amphetamine per week since September. That gives us an idea of the scope of today’s seizure.
Commander Francis Renaud
The selling price of the tablets in the market is $5 per unit.
Arrests of several big players
The individuals targeted during the operation are linked to criminal bikers in Montreal.
Very early Wednesday, the police made multiple arrests within the network.
Around 7 a.m., patrol cars and unmarked vehicles gathered in front of the home of a suspect located on the South Shore of Montreal. The agents take up position in front of the charming semi-detached on the edge of a field.
A half-asleep little girl in pajamas comes out of the house, accompanied by two SPVM investigators. The kid observes without surprise the many police vehicles while moving away from the scene.
Her father bursts outside, escorted by officers. The man – a big player in the organization – is shirtless and handcuffed. They place a blanket over his shoulders, before letting him rush into the patrol car.
A dismantled narcotics production network
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PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, THE PRESS
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PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, THE PRESS
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PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, THE PRESS
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PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, THE PRESS
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An hour later, another “subject of interest” goes to one of the search points in Chambly. A good sign, according to the police on the spot: the suspect does not suspect anything, he will “do his business”. The presumed drug trafficker – close to the thinking head of the organization – is intercepted in his vehicle and then handcuffed.
While searching the family residences of some suspects, the police found easily accessible handguns.
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PHOTO PHILIPPE BOIVIN, THE PRESS
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PHOTO PHILIPPE BOIVIN, THE PRESS
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PHOTO PHILIPPE BOIVIN, THE PRESS
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In all, 280 personnel took part in the deployment.
Take on the strongest
“We have completely pulled the rug out from under this organization”, sums up Francis Renaud.
PHOTO PHILIPPE BOIVIN, THE PRESS
Commander Francis Renaud
The head of the network, the one who “operated the machine” and the main distributor were arrested.
Wednesday’s operation will shake up the criminal underworld. But the police force is not fooled: other groups will want to take the place of the fallen network. “It’s a market of opportunity. It will be jostling at the gates to take over this market, ”admits the commander.
“We want to attack the strongest. But the message we want to send is that no matter the size of the organization, we are going to attack the criminal world, ”said the commander.
The investigation enabled the SPVM to find out about this organization’s clients, many of whom are resellers. “We have plenty of teams in the field who have the mandate to tackle street drugs, and this investigation is a seedbed of information for them. »
“Today, we see a historic search that cuts revenues that support the purchase of firearms,” said the mayoress of Montreal, Valérie Plante, at a press conference Wednesday afternoon. She was delighted with the long-term work of the SPVM teams, saying she wanted to continue to fight against the increase in armed crimes.
PHOTO PHILIPPE BOIVIN, THE PRESS
“Today, we see a historic search […] which comes to cut revenues that support the purchase of firearms,” said the mayoress of Montreal, Valérie Plante.
With Alice Girard-Bossé and Daniel Renaud, The Press
Learn more
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- Dangerous drug
- Amphetamine, a central nervous system stimulant, is a designer drug. “It takes manipulation to make this drug and in this case, it is certainly not made by an experienced chemist,” says Francis Renaud. You never know what’s in those pills, he continues. Even with the same dealer who get their supplies from the same supplier, consuming them remains risky for the target clientele, namely teenagers and young adults.
- Seizures in numbers
- 6.5 million tablets of amphetamine; 21 guns; 500 kg of methamphetamine powder; 6 presses for the manufacture of tablets; over $300,000 in cash.