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06-22-2006, 04:16 AM
Police arrest 36 in major Quebec drug sweep
Updated Wed. Jun. 21 2006 1:09 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Dozens of people were arrested Wednesday morning after more than 350 police officers carried out a massive operation aimed at dismantling a Quebec drug-trafficking ring.
Thirty-six people have been arrested so far in police raids carried out by at least 350 officers from the RCMP, aboriginal police and the Surete du Quebec in Montreal, Sherbrooke and Kanesatake -- a Mohawk community outside of Montreal.
"This investigation led us to 42 searches this morning, 24 in the Sherbrooke area, 16 in Montreal and one in Kanasatake, where the head of this network was arrested," Spokesman Guy Amyot told The Canadian Press.
Police allege a 48-year-old Kanesateke resident was the ringleader of the drug-trafficking ring and had ties to the Hells Angels in Montreal, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivieres.
Sharon Simon has been charged with trafficking, conspiracy, money laundering and gangsterism.
"We're looking at an organization that was distributing and also producing marijuana and ecstasy to be exported to the U.S." RCMP spokesperson Sylvain L'Heureux told reporters.
The Mounties also say the ring was allegedly involved in laundering $4.8 million US in the last eight months and had the capacity to transport about 100 lbs. of marijuana per week to the U.S.
"I asked the RCMP what that's worth, (they) said about $200,000 a week, and of course in a 14-month investigation, that's a lot of money," CTV Montreal's Herb Luft reported.
Suspects have been charged with gangsterism, drug trafficking, conspiracy to traffic in drugs, money laundering, and possession of prohibited weapons.
A total of 125 charges have been laid against the 36 suspects, who will begin to make their first court appearances Thursday.
The raid is part of an investigation launched in April 2005 under the name "Project CLEOPATRE."
Between Oct. 1, 2005 and May 23, 2006, officers also seized close to one-million in US and Canadian dollars; six firearms including an AK47 found in a vehicle driven by one of the suspects; and marijuana, cocaine and "many incriminating documents."
These seizures were conducted between October 1st, 2005 and May 23, 2006 near the Canadian border and elsewhere in Quebec and the United States.
Updated Wed. Jun. 21 2006 1:09 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Dozens of people were arrested Wednesday morning after more than 350 police officers carried out a massive operation aimed at dismantling a Quebec drug-trafficking ring.
Thirty-six people have been arrested so far in police raids carried out by at least 350 officers from the RCMP, aboriginal police and the Surete du Quebec in Montreal, Sherbrooke and Kanesatake -- a Mohawk community outside of Montreal.
"This investigation led us to 42 searches this morning, 24 in the Sherbrooke area, 16 in Montreal and one in Kanasatake, where the head of this network was arrested," Spokesman Guy Amyot told The Canadian Press.
Police allege a 48-year-old Kanesateke resident was the ringleader of the drug-trafficking ring and had ties to the Hells Angels in Montreal, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivieres.
Sharon Simon has been charged with trafficking, conspiracy, money laundering and gangsterism.
"We're looking at an organization that was distributing and also producing marijuana and ecstasy to be exported to the U.S." RCMP spokesperson Sylvain L'Heureux told reporters.
The Mounties also say the ring was allegedly involved in laundering $4.8 million US in the last eight months and had the capacity to transport about 100 lbs. of marijuana per week to the U.S.
"I asked the RCMP what that's worth, (they) said about $200,000 a week, and of course in a 14-month investigation, that's a lot of money," CTV Montreal's Herb Luft reported.
Suspects have been charged with gangsterism, drug trafficking, conspiracy to traffic in drugs, money laundering, and possession of prohibited weapons.
A total of 125 charges have been laid against the 36 suspects, who will begin to make their first court appearances Thursday.
The raid is part of an investigation launched in April 2005 under the name "Project CLEOPATRE."
Between Oct. 1, 2005 and May 23, 2006, officers also seized close to one-million in US and Canadian dollars; six firearms including an AK47 found in a vehicle driven by one of the suspects; and marijuana, cocaine and "many incriminating documents."
These seizures were conducted between October 1st, 2005 and May 23, 2006 near the Canadian border and elsewhere in Quebec and the United States.
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