Montreal Authorities arrested seven suspects in a scanning of the crime organized on Wednesday morning to target the Italian mafia of the city.
The police said that individuals face various accusations, including drug trafficking, possession of substances for trafficking and have committed an offense for the benefit of a criminal organization.
The suspects are six men aged 34 to 59 and a 44 -year -old woman.
According to police, 40 police officers were involved in the operation.
The seven suspects would be linked to what the police called a “traditional Italian organized crime clan,” said a SPVM statement.
The series of arrests took place in the regions of Lasalle, Verdun and Brossard.
The seven suspects were to appear on Wednesday in court.
The raids, nicknamed “the Americano operation”, were led by the anti-Gang Unit of the Montreal police.
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CMDR. Francis Renaud, head of the Montreal police organized crime section, said the operation would disrupt organized crime in the city and Verdun of the city.
The survey involved significant resources and included telephone listening, video sequences and “day and night” surveillance.
He told journalists on Wednesday at the police headquarters that Italian organized crime was traditionally associated with the Saint-Leonard district of Montreal, so “we just struck a small sector that goes a lot under the radar,” he said.
Renaud said that the crime organized in this area is different because the traditional mafia works with bikers and other gangs that would have previously been considered rivals. “They do business, dealing with partners of other organized groups which at the time when we say that they are enemies, but it is no longer enemies.”
He said the targeted group does not sell drugs at the street level, but will work with a network of resellers as a pregnancy.
While the police operation has probably brought to the crime network organized in certain parts of the city, the authorities say that more people are found to fill the place of those who have been arrested, forcing the police to start a new series of investigations.
“Of course, they will find someone else to replace these guys if these guys stay inside,” he said. “It is our work to (monitor) the Intels and to see who happens to take the place, and redo exactly the same thing.”
The group survey began in 2023 and has already led to cocaine convulsions, crystal, firearms and 2.2 million dollars in cash during the raids last year, according to the authorities. Three people have already been arrested, bringing the total number of arrests to 10.
– with Canadian press files
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