MONTREAL — Montreal police said Wednesday that they'd struck a blow to organized crime in part of the city, as they announced seven arrests as part of an investigation dubbed "Operation Americano."
The suspects are six men between the ages of 34 and 59 and a 44-year-old woman — all of whom are allegedly linked to what police call a traditional Italian organized crime clan.
Cmdr. Francis Renaud, head of the Montreal police's organized crime section, said the operation would disrupt organized crime in the city's LaSalle and Verdun neighbourhoods.
"This will hurt traditional Italian organized crime in that area," he told reporters at police headquarters.
Police say the suspects were expected to appear in court Wednesday on various charges that include committing an offence for the benefit of a criminal organization, drug trafficking and possession of substances for the purpose of trafficking.
Renaud said Italian organized crime has traditionally been associated with the St-Leonard area north of downtown, rather than the Verdun and LaSalle areas to the southwest.
"We just hit a little sector that goes underneath the radar a lot," he said. "We don't hear about LaSalle and Italian organized crime a lot, so that's pretty interesting to see."
He said organized crime in that area is different because traditional Mafia work with bikers and other gangs that would have previously been considered rivals. "They’re doing business, dealing with partners from other organized groups that back in the day we would say enemies, but they’re not enemies anymore," he said.
The operation was led by the Montreal police's anti-gang unit and included about 40 police officers. Arrests also took place in Brossard, on the South Shore.
Police say Wednesday's arrests marked the final phase of an investigation that began in 2023, and that has already resulted in seizures of cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, guns and $2.2 million in cash during raids last year. Three people were previously arrested, bringing the total number of arrests to 10.
Renaud said the investigation involved significant resources and included wiretaps, video footage and "day and night" surveillance.
He said the group targeted doesn't sell drugs at the street level, but allegedly works with a network of resellers as a kind of wholesaler.
While he said the police operation had likely weakened the group, he acknowledged that more people would be found to fill the place of those who were arrested, forcing police to start a new round of investigations.
"Of course they will find somebody else to replace those guys if those guys stay inside," he said. "It's our job to (monitor) the intel and see who is coming in to take the place, and do the exact same thing again."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 9, 2025.
Morgan Lowrie and Pierre Saint-Arnaud, The Canadian Press
