Major police operation underway across Quebec to dismantle firearm, drug trafficking network

A large police operation is underway in multiple regions across Quebec Thursdayto dismantle a firearm and drug trafficking network impacting the Montreal and Quebec City areas.

The operation isbeing led by thequipe intgre de lutte au trafic d'armes (EILTA), a unit withthe Sret du Qubec(SQ), and includes a series of searches related to organized crime andthe trafficking of illegal firearms and narcotics.

More than 100 police and civilian personnel from theSQ and various municipal forces are conducting searches in the following locations Thursday:

• Pointe-Claire.
• Longueuil.
• Boucherville.
• Saint-Hubert.
• Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
• Mercier.
• Saint-Roch-de-Richelieu.
• Saint-Marc-sur-Richelieu.
• Repentigny.
• Saint-Cme.
• Sainte-milie-de-l'nergie.
• Fossambault-sur-le-Lac.
• Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier.

This operation, which stems from an investigation initiated in October 2023, has already led to the arrest of 11 people involved in an illegal firearms trafficking network.

These EILTAsearchesare part of Quebec's CENTAURE strategy, which aims to "ensure constant pressure on organized crime and thus actively combat gun violence in Quebec."

Anyone with information relating to the possession, trafficking, use and manufacturing of firearms can be reported to the CENTAURE information line at1-833-888-ARME (2763).