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Police arrest 26 people in Quebec and Ontario in marijuana trafficking ring

Canadian Press | 3/21/2006

MONTREAL (CP) - A distribution network that shipped marijuana from Quebec to Ontario and the United States has been dismantled with the arrest of 26 people, Montreal police say.

Montreal police Cmdr. Giovanni Di Feo said Tuesday the arrests came in a series of early morning raids in more than a dozen cities, mainly in and around the island of Montreal.

Four people arrested in the Ontario cities of Cornwall, Toronto, Hamilton and Guelph were among those picked up by police following a six-month investigation.

"The project was initiated in October of 2005 and its objective was to shed light on a marijuana trafficking network which extended to Ontario as well as the U.S.," said Di Feo.

All the suspects arrested in Ontario are due to appear in court in Montreal within the next few days.

The 26 accused, including six women, face a long list of drug trafficking charges, including participation in a criminal organization.

Di Feo told reporters that the network made three to four deliveries to the U.S. weekly, each weighing between 22.5 and 90 kilograms.

He also said the ring was allegedly operated by Asian and Italian gangs.

"They kind of operated hand-in-hand and used each other's services according to demand and needs," Di Feo said.

About 350 officers, including members of the Quebec provincial police and the RCMP, carried out 39 searches.

About $600,000 in Canadian and U.S. currency was seized, along with marijuana and hashish, Di Feo said.

Also seized were a bulletproof vest and several weapons, including five handguns, three rifles, 16 Tasers.

American authorities are also continuing their investigation.