The RCMP arrested three people and seized 128 kg of cocaine Thursday morning as part of a long-running drug trade investigation.

One of those arrested, Jaime Flores, is scheduled to appear in court Thursday to face charges of conspiracy, importing drugs and intent to traffic drugs.

He was first targeted by the RCMP several years ago as part of Operation Clemenza. As part of that operation two years ago, the RCMP arrested dozens of people who were trying to control the cocaine trade in the Montreal area.

Flores had been on the run, and was arrested in Ecuador in January of this year, but had managed to make it back to Montreal.

Constable Erique Gasse said this plot was a scheme to smuggle cocaine from Los Angeles and Houston to Montreal.

The other two people arrested were not named and will appear in court at a later date.

In May the RCMP arrested 14 people and seized 220 kg of cocaine as part of the same operation.