For the second time in as many days, the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) tackled organized crime yesterday by carrying out a series of searches against drug trafficking.
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In the early morning, police officers from the Montérégie Regional Mixed Squad (ERM) simultaneously struck at the residence and two commercial establishments of Hells Angels member in good standing Sylvain Tétreault.
These include Lave-auto 213, on Laframboise Boulevard in Saint-Hyacinthe, which is a “place of interest”, according to a source.
In all, about twenty searches took place in relation to this drug trafficking network which would operate in the Maskoutain region.
According to our information, Tétreault, of the South chapter, would be the leading head. The one who would be considered his right arm, Louis Parenteau, was also targeted by the operation.
Under investigation
Since these were searches under investigation, none of the suspects were arrested yesterday. The authorities decided to adopt this strategy because of the Jordan judgment, which limits the duration of legal proceedings.
It makes it possible to collect all the evidence and process it properly so that the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP) can lay charges at the appropriate time.
According to our information, this was not the first time that this network was targeted. During the various strikes, firearms, large quantities of narcotics, thousands of dollars, and electronic devices were seized. The authorities were also able to get their hands on clothing bearing the effigy of the Hells Angels.
Already on the run
Hells Sylvain Tétreault was among the members targeted by the SharQc mega-operation in 2009.
However, the police were never able to handcuff him and was on the run until 2014, when he was arrested.
He is part of a group of numerous Hells Angels who are suing the Quebec government for more than $85M for the “violation of their fundamental rights during the criminal proceedings brought against them”.
In 2000, he was sentenced to five years in prison in connection with a murder conspiracy. He was then a “Hells prospect,” according to the ruling.
Tétreault was also among the guests at the wedding of influential Hells Angels member Martin Robert and Annie Arbic.
Recall that on Wednesday, the SQ carried out searches on the North Shore of Montreal to attack another network of traffickers linked to organized crime.