Organized crime: 35 people arrested by the SQ in a major operation

A vast operation by the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) and various police forces led to the arrest of 35 people and 15 searches across the province on Wednesday, in connection with the violent conflict between criminal groups for control drug trafficking.

Today, we are sending a clear message: the SQ will spare no effort in the fight against perpetrators of violence and drug traffickerslaunched the chief inspector of the investigations department of the Sûreté du Québec, Michel Patenaude. No matter when the crime was committed, we will continue our efforts.

According to the Sûreté du Québec, around fifteen searches took place in several regions, including in the Capitale-Nationale, on the North Shore, in Bas-Saint-Laurent, in Gaspésie, in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, in Outaouais and Lanaudière. Quantities of narcotics were seized, confirms the SQ.

These arrests follow violent events that occurred in Saint-Malachie, Chaudière-Appalaches, and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean.

200 police officers SQthe Saguenay Police Department and the Quebec City Police Department contributed to this operation which began around 6 a.m.

Several individuals arrested today appeared in court and face various charges, including kidnapping, forcible confinement, assault with a weapon, discharge of firearms, arson and drug traffickingspecified Chief Inspector Patenaude.

Correctional officers also carried out concerted interventions in six provincial detention centers and made seizures from certain cells, including around ten cell phones.

This is a strong blow against organized and disorganized crimeaffirms in writing the Minister of Public Security, François Bonnardel. A few weeks ago, I met the police forces, including the SQ, and I was assured that action would be taken. Congratulations to all police officers, investigators and corrections officers at the Department of Public Safety.

All allegiances are targeted

The operation carried out by the SQ targets different criminal groups, according to Michel Patenaude.

All allegiances are targeted. Regardless of allegiance, we will proceed with investigations based on the information we have. Today, we have people of all allegiances who are targeted by searches, whether searches [pour des] narcotics, major crime investigations [ou] homicide investigationsexplained the police officer.

Wednesday’s arrests are linked to around thirty cases relating to armed violence and drug trafficking. They target level one and two performersthat is to say the local and regional levels, according to the inspector. They are not aimed at the leaders.

Dave Turmel, the leader of the Blood Family Mafia, and All Boivin, the leader of a group active in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, are still actively sought by the police.

A wanted person

Following this operation, the SQ is asking for the public’s help to find David Trottier-Boucher, 25, suspected of having committed a kidnapping in Saguenay last February.

David Boucher-Trottier is the subject of an arrest warrant which includes three charges, namely aggravated assault, kidnapping and forcible confinement of a person. He could be anywhere in Quebec.

Remember that last February, a 28-year-old man was kidnapped in the city of Saguenay and the authorities had reason to fear for his safety. He was later located in the streets of the city of Montreal with significant injurieswarns the SQ.

Further details will follow.