The Hells Angels and the Red Devils biker gangs were targeted in 49 police raids which saw 650 police officers arrest 65 suspects in Saguenay, the Laurentians and Laval Wednesday.
The raids, part of the larger Operation Macaque, were mainly directed at targets in the Saguenay area where the network was also suspected of other crimes, including extortion, arson and kidnapping.
One of the cells was suspected of producing marijuana for the Quebec market, while another was believed to have been exporting marijuana to the U.S.A. at a rate of 20 kilos per week, for a revenue of about $1.2 million.
Among those arrested were Daniel Labrie, 41, of Terrebonne, Daniel Bouchard, 40, of Jonquière, Éric Bleau, 32, of Saint-Eustache, Pierre Chayer, 50, of Rawdon and Normand Girard, 60, of Laval.
On Thursday the SQ offered more details of the operation, noting that the raids led to seizures of over $220,000 in Canadian cash as well as another $19,000 US, over 10,500 marijuana plants, 1.7 kg of hashish, 1.2 kg of cocaine, 15 firearms, over 1,700 units of methamphetamine pills, 1.7 kg of methamphetamine as well as other drug-related materials.
The raid was the final chapter of Operation Macaque a 17-police squad operation targeting drug networks in Saguenay, Montreal and the North Shore.
Operation Macaque kicked off in January and led to hauls of over 20,000 marijuana plants, 1.7 kg of hashish, 260 kg of cannabis, three kg of cocaine, 180,000 tablets of methamphetamine, 19.7 kilograms of methamphetamine, 27 firearms, more than $500,000 Canadian and U.S. $ 20,000 20 vehicles , a boat and a tablet press capable of producing 1,400 tablets per minute.
