Authorities in Montreal have arrested seven suspects in an organized crime sweep on Wednesday morning targeting the city’s Italian mafia.
Police say the individuals face various charges, including drug trafficking, possession of substances for the purpose of trafficking, and committing an offence for the benefit of a criminal organization.
The suspects are six men between the ages of 34 and 59, and one 44-year-old woman.
Police say 40 officers were involved in the operation.
All seven suspects are allegedly linked to what police called a “traditional Italian organized crime clan,” a release from the SPVM says.
The series of arrests took place in the LaSalle, Verdun and Brossard areas.
All seven suspects were expected to appear in court on Wednesday.
The raids, dubbed ‘Operation Americano’, were led by the Montreal police’s anti-gang unit.
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Cmdr. Francis Renaud, head of the Montreal police’s organized crime section, said the operation would disrupt organized crime in the city’s LaSalle and Verdun neighbourhoods.
The investigation involved significant resources and included wiretaps, video footage and “day and night” surveillance.
He told reporters at police headquarters on Wednesday that Italian organized crime has traditionally been associated with Montreal’s Saint-Leonard neighborhood, so “we just hit a little sector that goes underneath the radar a lot,” he said.
Renaud said organized crime in that area is different because traditional Mafia work with bikers and other gangs that would have previously been considered rivals. “They’re doing business, dealing with partners from other organized groups that back in the day we would say were enemies, but they’re not enemies anymore.”
He said the group targeted doesn’t sell drugs at the street level, but allegedly works with a network of resellers as a kind of wholesaler.
While the police operation likely struck a blow to the organized crime network in parts of the city, authorities say more people would be found to fill the place of those who were arrested, forcing police to start a new round of investigations.
“Of course they will find somebody else to replace those guys if those guys stay inside,” he said. “It’s our job to (monitor) the intel and see who is coming in to take the place, and do the exact same thing again.”
The investigation into the group began in 2023, and has already resulted in seizures of cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, guns and $2.2 million in cash during raids last year, according to authorities. Three people were previously arrested, bringing the total number of arrests to 10.
–with files from The Canadian Press
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Sweeping Italian mafia raids results in 7 arrests by Montreal police
