A major drug bust was held on Montreal's north shore Thursday morning.
Laval police have confirmed that a regional mixed drug squad made up of several police forces was conducting raids at homes in Bois des Filion, Terrebonne and Blainville.
Three women, two men in their twenties, and the 32-year-old alleged ringleader were arrested during the raids.
Police seized an undisclosed quantity of drugs, mostly cocaine and possibly some marijuana.
Police spokeswoman Natalie Lorraine says the drug ring communicated almost exclusively through the use of text messaging on their mobile phones, which is a change from the traditional use of pagers by drug dealers.
"This is a new phenomenon," Lorraine said.
The mixed drug squad was established a year and a half ago to counter the ongoing problem of drugs and street gangs. Thursday morning's raids included approximately 40 police officers and came following an investigation that lasted a few months, Lorraine said.
