Seven teens arrested in Saint-Leonard in connection with organized crime

Police arrested seven teens aged 14 to 17 in Saint-Leonard last Thursday in connection with organized crime.

According to Montreal police (SPVM), the teens had broken into a building on Jean-Talon Street East in mid-June and used it for cover since.

"Despite their young age, the suspects were implicated in many violent crimes," said the SPVM in a news release.

Police tied the group of teens to robberies, arson, extortion and gun violence.

All seven will appear in youth court facing mischief and breaking-and-entering charges. Four of them were already in custody as part of separate legal proceedings.

Arrest mandates have been issued for two more suspects, aged 16 and 20.

Rise in arson

There was a string of arsons on the island over the last week, including a Rockaberry in Saint-Leonard over the weekend and a torched car in the area a few days later. A depanneur in Verdun was targeted on Monday. Police are still investigating last week's fire in Old Montreal. 

Retired Montreal police detective Pietro Poletti called the recent surge in arsons "surreal."

 He says organized crime groups have been tasking street gangs with money collection, "like a bounty hunter." According to Poletti, there are dozens of street gangs in Montreal and young people are especially recruited as they're happy with smaller cuts.

"These young kids that are committing these acts, first of all, they're not mature. They're 15, 16, they have weapons. They don't think of the consequences," he said.

He said police need to "put their foot down."

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said the situation is worrying but that she and the SPVM "take this very seriously."

With files from Matthew Grillo