MONTREAL – Police have arrested at least 25 suspects and seized nearly 30 weapons in a Mafia drug bust that targeted neighbourhoods in the north and east of the city.
Armed with 25 arrest warrants and between 30 and 40 search warrants, officers began raiding homes and other locations just before 5 a.m.
In collaboration with the RCMP, Laval and Terrebonne police, Montreal police officers conducted raids in Anjou, Montreal North. Riviere des Prairies and St. Leonard, as well as in Laval and Terrebone – cities north of Montreal.
Police are calling suspects an “emerging” group within the Montreal Mafia.
The investigation began in October 2011 and has focused on cocaine, marijuana and synthetic drug trafficking networks with ties to organized crime in the Italian community. The drugs were apparently distributed out of Italian cafes and private residences.
“Although rarely trafficking stops with those substances,” noted Sgt. Jean Bruno Latour, a spokesperson for the Montreal police.
Police are not confirming media reports that the arrests are linked to prominent mob leaders Joe DeVito and Raynald Desjardins.
“The group is emerging and we are not confirming any links at this point,” said Latour.
At a press conference Wednesday morning, Montreal police spokesperson Ian Lafreniere did confirm that 29 weapons were seized during the raids. Investigators will analyze the guns to see if they are linked to any crimes. He also noted the average age of the arrests.
“The average age of the men arrested was 30 years old. Why do I mention this? Because it shows that drug trafficking is controlled by a young generation.”
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