Nearly 400 police officers fanned out across Montreal on Tuesday in what RCMP are calling a “massive operation” targeting a suspected criminal organization in the city.
“The infractions being investigated are cocaine trafficking, money laundering and illegal gambling,” RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Charles Poirier told Global News outside one of three raided bars in the city’s north end.
An RCMP command post could be seen outside, along with a pile of broken glass and a police dog.
Police served 20 search warrants at four businesses — mostly bars — and 16 homes scattered across the Montreal region.
“Depending on what’s found at these locations, it’s possible we’ll have additional search warrants underway, possibly some arrests, and further down the road, the laying of some criminal charges,” Poirier said.
The RCMP is leading the investigation which involves Montreal police and the Canada Revenue Agency.
The raids also included officers from out of province, so that they could be “simultaneous,” Poirier said.
“We’ve enlisted the help of British Columbia, Ontario and New Brunswick RCMP emergency response teams,” he said.
The RCMP would not say which “criminal organization” officers were targeting, only that it is “known” to them.