Eleven men aged 19 to 64 and a 34-year-old woman were arrested during a series of searches carried out early Wednesday morning in three towns in Abitibi and in the metropolitan area, the SQ said in a press release. .
Ten of these people were kept detained and appeared by telephone at the Val-d’Or courthouse on Wednesday afternoon. They are the subject of several charges related to drug trafficking and possession of firearms. The other suspects have been released. They are expected to return to court later.
These arrests were carried out by investigators from the Abitibi-Témiscamingue Major Crimes Investigation Division. The operation goes beyond the territory of the Vallée-de-l’Or, since searches were also carried out in Rouyn-Noranda, Amos, Montreal and Longueuil.
Eleven places and six vehicles were searched in these territories. The police notably carried out four searches in Val-d’Or, two in Amos, two in Rouyn-Noranda, one in Montreal and another in Longueuil.
This is a criminal network from Montreal that wanted to establish itself in the region, which has led to an increase in violence that we have seen in recent months. Everything is directly related to the control of the territory for the distribution and trafficking of narcotics
described Sergeant Nancy Fournier, spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec, Wednesday in an interview.
Sergeant Nancy Fournier, spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Gabriel Poirier
Sergeant Fournier refers to the arson attacks recorded in recent months to illustrate the increase in violence to which she alludes. She specifies that these misdeeds have no connection with the current situation in downtown Val-d’Or, while many citizens are concerned about social tensions, homelessness and delinquency.
The Sûreté du Québec mentions having seized, during this series of searches, 15,500 methamphetamine tablets, more than 800 grams of powdered methamphetamine, more than 550 grams of cocaine, approximately 900 grams of illicit cannabis and about thirty tablets of ecstasy, in particular. A handgun and prohibited weapons were also seized along with equipment used in the sale of narcotics.
Some 120 police officers from Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Montreal and Longueuil took part in the intervention.
attack a network
The police operation, which began early Wednesday morning, is part of the CENTAURE strategy, which led to the arrest of five people on March 17 in Val-d’Or. In addition to these arrests, 13,500 methamphetamine tablets, more than 70 grams of cocaine, a loaded pistol, four air guns and a large sum of cash were seized.
Six other people were arrested a few weeks later, on April 6. About 40,000 tablets of methamphetamine, 1,500 grams of cocaine and 2,000 grams of illicit cannabis were then seized along with equipment used for the sale of narcotics.
One of the searches took place in an apartment on rue Mgr Tessier Ouest, in Rouyn-Noranda.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Mathieu Ouelette
The searches taking place today (Wednesday) follow on from the searches that took place in Val-d’Or around March. It is a continuation of this operation
said Nancy Fournier at the start of the day.
The CENTAURE strategy has the mandate to ensure constant pressure on organized crime and to actively fight against armed violence in Quebec. CENTAUR allows all partner police forces to maximize their efforts at the national, regional and local levels by targeting the supply, importation, distribution and illegal possession of firearms
we underline in the press release of the SQ.
Any information related to the possession, trafficking or use of firearms can be communicated to the CENTAURE information line, at 1-833-888-ARME (2763).
– With the collaboration of Emily Blais
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