Montreal police have finally arrested not one, but two suspects who were on parole during the bust of an online drug store linked to two fatal overdoses. Both were supposed to be under strict supervision by federal prison authorities while they finished serving their sentences in the community.
The Montreal Police Department (SPVM) had initially announced the arrest of a 17-year-old minor suspect and a 24-year-old adult on Tuesday, during this operation carried out against the network of dealers who were selling extremely powerful synthetic opioids to a young clientele.
The store active on Instagram and Telegram operated under the name “Kushtard,” according to our information. The police link this supplier to the overdose death of young Mathis Boivin, 15, whose story made the rounds of Quebec last January. Our research also made it possible to link the same cell of dealers to the overdose death of Nikian Levesque-Vanny, 19, last May.
The Press revealed on Wednesday that the main suspect arrested so far, Laxshan Mylvaganam, is still serving a two-year, nine-month prison sentence imposed by a judge in 2022 for drug trafficking on Snapchat.
As required by law, he was released after serving two-thirds of his sentence, in December 2023. He was able to regain his freedom, but had to comply with strict conditions, including staying away from the drug world and allowing the Correctional Service of Canada to monitor all his electronic communications. According to the police, he still managed to operate a thriving business selling drugs on social networks.
Two other accused
During Mr. Mylvaganam’s appearance at the Montreal courthouse on Wednesday, the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP) revealed that two other adult suspects had been arrested in Tuesday’s strike. They were also paraded before the judge to be charged.
This is the case of Simon Gerardo-Paquette, 34, from Rawdon, who was charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. At the time of his arrest, the 30-year-old was also still serving a sentence of two years and four months in prison previously imposed for possession of 170,000 methamphetamine tablets for the purpose of trafficking.
The penitentiary had not so much calmed him down since the guards had discovered in his cell a homemade still and 15 liters of adulterated alcohol, according to a decision of the Parole Board of Canada. Intoxicated with GHB, he had also assaulted two members of the prison staff.
Mr. Gerardo-Paquette was nevertheless released on statutory release after serving two-thirds of his sentence last May. The Parole Board prohibited him from associating with the world of drug trafficking while he finished serving his sentence in the community. He also had to allow the Correctional Service of Canada to monitor all his text messages, calls and social media interactions.
However, four months after his release, he is back behind bars.
A third adult accused, Philippe Lévesque-Plamondon, 37, of Montreal, also appeared for possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. Sobbing before the judge, struggling to speak through his tears, he said he did not understand the reasons for his arrest.
“I have nothing to do with it!” he kept repeating. He was released for further proceedings.
A 17-year-old minor accused is due to appear in juvenile court later in the same case.