A series of searches were underway Wednesday morning, targeting in particular residences linked to organized crime leaders, including alleged members of the Hells Angels, as part of an investigation into a major drug trafficking network.
The large-scale operation was led by police officers from the National Organized Crime Squad (ENRCO) in collaboration with many other police forces. More than 70 police officers were on the job, including the tactical intervention group and the canine module.
These are eight searches that took place in Montreal, Laval, and in the Laurentians, that is to the Estérel, Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, Sainte-Sophie, Blainville and Mirabel, let know the ENRCO.
A cocaine sales network in Greater Montreal would be particularly targeted by the operation. Leaders are targeted, as are other less influential individuals within criminal organizations. Some would be members of the Hells Angels.
This is the first wave of searches carried out as part of this investigation, which began in 2021. And there could be others, said Sergeant Audrey-Anne Bilodeau of the Sûreté du Québec, one of the police forces involved in the operation.
There have been no arrests at this time, but those could come later, the sergeant said.
The searches aim to gather evidence, in particular with the seizure of narcotics, computers and computer equipment.
The National Organized Crime Squad has a mandate to specifically attack its leaders, including members in good standing of the Hells Angels. ENRCO Montreal is made up of police officers from the Sûreté du Québec, the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal, the Service de police de Laval, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and members of the Canada Border Services Agency.