Illicit drug charges plummet 35% over five years in Quebec

At a time when “record” seizures are increasing and the price of coke is at its lowest, the number of illicit drug charges in Quebec has fallen by 35% in five years.

• Read also: Nearly a ton of cocaine in Quebec: discover the behind the scenes of a drug trafficking network

According to figures provided to the Journal by the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP), the number of charges filed in this matter fell from 15,352 in 2019 to 9,943 in 2023.

This pace has been maintained for the current year, with more than 2,500 charges having already been filed at the end of March.

This includes all offences ranging from trafficking to possession of narcotics, such as cocaine, crack or methamphetamines. Cannabis is excluded from this review.

Sellers at peace

In the eyes of the president of the Montreal Police Brotherhood, the lack of staff on the streets of the metropolis could explain this trend, which has continued even after the pandemic years.

“It’s worrying for the future,” argues Yves Francoeur. It’s really that currently, the police department’s resources being very limited, what is prioritized is the fight against firearms. […] and there are significant conflicts that are dormant between different street gangs.”

To this have recently been added the efforts mobilized to counter the scourge of vehicle thefts, mentioned Mr. Francoeur.

Two criminal lawyers consulted by The newspaper have also noted that drug cases are less often taking up space in the courtrooms of the Montreal courthouse.

“It’s much more, for example, we investigate [sur] someone concerning firearms, we arrest him [pour ça]and there are drugs,” illustrates the first.

“We understand that putting people in prison for 30, 40 days for small quantities of crack is not really what will change our society,” he adds.

His colleague believes, for his part, that “the time for sellers has never been so good”.

The latter indicates that the only police operations relating to narcotics “target big players”.

Record after record

The Montreal City Police Service (SPVM) highlights the work of its troops in this regard, given the colossal seizures made in recent years.

At the end of March, law enforcement revealed, for example, that they had seized 97 kg of cocaine, 26 kg of MDMA and more than 600,000 methamphetamine tablets from a network that supplied itself in the Toronto region. .

“It’s not complicated, we’re breaking records after records […] internally at the SPVM,” insists Francis Renaud, commander of the Organized Crime Division.

Do these numerous successes indicate that there are fewer drugs on the streets of the metropolis?

“I don’t have the infused knowledge […]”I can’t tell you yes,” Francis Renaud answers frankly.

“Have resources been taken away from organized crime and put into car theft? No. […] Have we become “Swiss army knife” police officers, perhaps? I can’t be against that,” he says.

A step in the right direction, according to speakers

The drop in drug charges is a step in the right direction, say stakeholders, who are calling for more support resources and less litigation.

“It’s very encouraging,” says Jean-François Mary, general director of CACTUS Montreal. “On a daily basis, for users who have no choice but to consume outside, we still notice that there is greater tolerance from the police, who do not make systematic arrests.”

This is because beyond the major criminal groups, other segments of the population are also brought to justice for drugs.

And the observers consulted by The newspaper are categorical: there is a lack of tools to adequately support people struggling with drug addiction problems.

Health and public safety

For Samuel Watts, CEO of Mission Bon Accueil, “we all know the solution.”

“It’s permanent housing for people who don’t have it and health services for people who have alcohol or drug addiction problems,” says the person who is concerned about the large presence of crack in the city. metropolis.

“We can really help people reduce their consumption,” underlines Fiona Crossling, general director at Accueil Bonneau, who also welcomes a less repressive approach from the police on a daily basis. We know that there are many more problems in terms of the quality of drugs on the street.”

Jean-François Mary, of CACTUS Montreal, also deplores the fact that the network of organizations seeking to reduce harm is on “life support,” having been “underfunded for 20 years.”

Not a solution

The legalization of consumers does nothing to help the cause, assures Jean-Sébastien Fallu, professor at the School of Psychoeducation at the University of Montreal, emphasizing the fact that “the majority of consumers are not those we see in the street.”

“There are always examples where coercion, prison, compulsory treatment, especially in the short term, can help some people, but overall and in the medium or long term, it is something that worsens the situation of drug addicts,” explains the professor.

“Having a growing legal file greatly jeopardizes the chances of social reintegration subsequently,” adds Jean-François Mary.

Over the years, various elements such as the overdose crisis in Canada in 2016, then the legalization of cannabis in 2018, seem to have contributed to a change in the authorities’ approach to drug control.

“I think that more and more, the DPCP has realized that in fact, it does not lead to much to lay accusations,” indicates Professor Fallu.