Organized crime | Guilty of producing cocaine

Joseph Frenn, an individual whom police intelligence links to Lebanese organized crime, was found guilty of producing and possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking on Thursday at the Saint-Jérôme courthouse.

Joseph Frenn, 33, his brothers, as well as the Saoumaa brothers and other individuals, were the subject of a major investigation in 2017 by the Organized Crime Division of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) called Affliction.

Investigators suspected the organization of selling up to 50 kilograms of cocaine per week at that time and of supplying the Hells Angels and the mafia.

The same organization is, according to the police, behind a failed importation by plane of 130 kg of cocaine in March 2017.

The aircraft, piloted by two Quebecers, had made an emergency landing on the runway at Ohio University airport due to a mechanical problem.

The organization had also set up a sophisticated cocaine processing and pressing laboratory on Thomas Gore Road in Lachute, which was dismantled by police a few days after the plane’s emergency landing.

Betrayed by his DNA

In April 2017, sleuths found in this laboratory, set up in the exterior garage of a property, a hydraulic press, electronic scales contaminated with cocaine, ovens, coffee grinders, sealers, chemicals, masks, ventilated helmets, gloves and stamps serving as logos of kilograms of cocaine.

Joseph Frenn’s DNA was identified on a mask and on one of the helmets found in the laboratory, and one of his fingerprints was found on a scale.

The evidence against Frenn was also based on videos and several surveillances carried out between January and April 2017, during which he was seen going to the laboratory, or in the company of accomplices with whom he transported or exchanged bags and suitcases, including once between midnight and 8 a.m.

“A money counting machine, masks, products used for drug trafficking, reusable bags, the same ones seized during searches and containing kilos of cocaine, were found at the accused’s home,” underlined Judge Sylvain Lépine of the Court of Quebec, before concluding that in light of the circumstantial evidence presented before him, he could not draw any inference other than the guilt of the accused.

“The observations made by the police during surveillance demonstrate unusual behavior. This is not about individuals playing a sport together. These individuals, including the accused, exchange bags. We do not see the content but the only logical conclusion, with the elements seized during the searches, that is to say narcotics, money and products and instruments used in the trafficking and sale of narcotics. , is that the accused had knowledge and control of the cocaine,” concluded Judge Lépine.

“One of the Defense arguments is that we do not see the contents of the bags carried by the accused and his alleged accomplices. But it is the very nature of these crimes to hide what is being transported. Drug traffickers are certainly not going to transport money and drugs in transparent bags,” added the magistrate, even describing one of the Defense theories as “far-fetched”.

An uncommon accusation

It is relatively uncommon in Quebec for an individual to be accused and convicted of cocaine production. A person convicted of this charge is liable to a life sentence.

“The circumstantial evidence against the accused was probative beyond a reasonable doubt. But combined with direct evidence, it became overwhelming. The Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP) is satisfied with the judgment considering the complete analysis of the evidence carried out by the Court,” reacted the prosecution prosecutors, Ms.^e Caroline Buist and M^e Jennifer Lepage.

Joseph Frenn was represented by M^e Danièle Roy.

Sentencing presentations were postponed until mid-January.

To contact Daniel Renaud, call 514 285-7000, ext. 4918, write to [email protected] or write to the postal address of The Press.