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Mafia

Montreal police arrest 10 suspects after seizing weapons and medicines

By Frank S. Crawford

  1. News
  2. Local News

Police say supplies from Toronto were destined for Montreal street gangs; alleged ring leader still being sought.

Montreal police Commander Francis Renaud addresses reporters Wednesday. Montreal police Commander Francis Renaud addresses reporters Wednesday. Photo by Pierre Obendrauf /Montreal Gazette

Ten suspects were arrested Wednesday in Quebec and Ontario as part of a Montreal police investigation that uncovered a network of people who were buying drugs and guns in Toronto and selling them to street gangs in and around Montreal.

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In a release, police said the investigation by the Montreal police organized-crime division uncovered a group that “obtained its supplies in the Toronto area and then sold it all in Montreal and its surroundings. The police investigation led to the seizure of a large quantity of weapons and drugs.”

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“The dismantled network was controlled from Montreal. The suspects apprehended were known to the Montreal police. In particular, they acted as suppliers to certain criminal street gangs.”

The alleged leader of the network, Emmanuel Puthyra Roy, 35, is still being sought by police. He faces charges of drug trafficking, gangsterism and possession of firearms with intent to traffic. He has a criminal record that incudes a case in St-Jérôme where he pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and was sentenced in 2011 to a three-year prison term.

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Emmanuel Puthyra Roy, 35, is being sought by Montreal police. He faces charges of drug trafficking, gangsterism and possession of firearms with intent to traffic. Emmanuel Puthyra Roy, 35, is being sought by Montreal police. He faces charges of drug trafficking, gangsterism and possession of firearms with intent to traffic. Montreal police

“It was a criminal organization based in Montreal,” Commander Francis Renaud told reporters. “Emmanuel Puthyra Roy is someone who grew up in northeastern Montreal and that is where his alliances are from, the northeastern part of the city. His team consisted of people he grew up with in Montreal.

“The investigation clearly showed to our investigators that the corridor was well established. We’re talking about individuals who were going to Toronto every week with bags of money and returning with drugs and firearms.”

Nicolas Monifère-Lafetière, 20, is also being sought in the investigation.

Among the 10 people arrested was Maxime Renault, 36, described by police as Puthyra Roy’s right-hand man. Renault has served time in the past for a homicide. He was part of a large group of people who attacked 19-year-old Sébastien Lacasse, during the summer of 2004, after the victim left a backyard party in Laval.

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Renault was one of a few people who assaulted Lacasse before the victim was fatally stabbed by a minor. On Oct. 21, 2005, Renault was sentenced to a four-year prison term.

The Crown objected to Renault’s release when he appeared Wednesday before a Quebec Court judge at the Montreal courthouse. He was one of at least four of the suspects who were ordered to remain detained for a hearing on Thursday.

Patrick-Olivier Gravel, 28, of Richmond Hill, Ont., was ordered to be released after he agreed to follow a series of conditions, including that he deposit $10,000.

Five people were previously arrested in the same investigation, between May and June.

One of the firearms seized by the Montreal police in their investigation. One of the firearms seized by the Montreal police in their investigation. Montreal police

One suspect, Rudy Louis Étienne, 42, of Mirabel, has a case pending at the St-Jérôme courthouse where he faces 15 charges related to firearms.

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Sami Hashemi Pour, 26 is currently detained and faces firearms-related charges at the Longueuil courthouse. He was arrested again, at the Montreal detention centre on Wednesday, and learned he faces new charges at the Montreal courthouse.

Earlier this year, search warrants were carried out inside seven residences and four vehicles in Montreal, Laval, Mirabel, Brossard, Longueuil, Toronto and Richmond Hill.

Police seized seven handguns; an AR15 assault rifle; 54 kilograms of cocaine; 46 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine; 168,500 methamphetamine tablets; 36 kilograms of cannabis; and more than $1.3 million in cash.

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Frank S. Crawford 1026 posts 0 comments

Mother's maiden name is Wilson, Love to write about Montreal and the life I have here! Amazing city with amazing food! I love to write and so I give time to this website!

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