Montréal, December 7, 2006 – The Royal Canadian Mounted
Police (RCMP) designed a bold scheme to cut to the core of two separate
cocaine importation rings. Some 20 alleged criminals were arrested and
escorted to the RCMP Headquarters early this morning. They will face
numerous charges of conspiracy to import drugs to Canada for the purpose
of trafficking.
This major police investigation, carried out by Montréal and
Québec city Drug Sections federal officers, is the result of two
operations conducted in parallel in the last two years. In fact, these
two operations, named "Cabernet" and "Cubain", which
shared the same investigative techniques, led to the arrest of 19 individuals
from two separate criminal rings. More than 100 officers took part in
these operations.
Project Cubain: A first organization down
In the course of Project Cubain, RCMP officers conducted a major investigation
that resulted in the dismantling of a criminal ring specializing in
the importation of cocaine. The leaders of this organization were Gilbert
Kelly, 62, and Sarto Berthiaume, 55. These two men had been involved
in the importation of cocaine from Maracaibo, Venezuela, for several
years. The criminal ring used a concealing method dubbed "torpedo".
With this method, drugs were concealed under the hull of ships and
then smuggled into Canada before being retrieved by divers.
Drugs under the hull
The investigation revealed among other things that Gilbert Kelly and
Sarto Berthiaume allegedly made two attempts to import drugs. They
are alleged to have conspired to import 134 kilograms of cocaine that
were seized in October 2004, in the Port of Puerto Bolivar, Colombia.
Both men are also believed to be responsible for a second attempt to
import 52 kilograms of cocaine that were also seized by the Canada
Border Services Agency, in the Port of Belledune, New Brunswick, in
November 2004. In both cases, the drugs were concealed under the hull
of ships.
Charges of conspiracy to import cocaine have been laid against both
men, and also against 10 other individuals involved at different stages
including those who were part of the diving and retrieval teams.
A restraint order has been issued for the residence of Gilbert Kelly,
worth approximately $300,000. In addition, all property found inside
the residence was seized by RCMP officers as it is believed to be proceeds
of crime.
Operation Cabernet: A second organization down
In parallel with Project Cubain, RCMP officers undertook a second operation,
Project Cabernet, which was another blow to organized crime. In this
operation, RCMP officers posing as drug carriers were to transport
between 500 and 1,000 kilograms of cocaine to Canada. However, the
criminal organization was unable to complete the deal that would have
made it possible for RCMP officers to take possession of the drugs
directly from the suppliers. But even if the deal fell through, sufficient
evidence was gathered to file charges against the organization including
for conspiracy to import cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. Charges
have been laid against 12 individuals, including the alleged leaders
of the organization, all three from the Montréal region. They
are Christopher Tune, 48, Daniel Rivard, 47, and Martin Bellehumeur,
35.
In addition to this conspiracy to import cocaine, more than $275,000,
6 kilograms of cocaine, 12 kilograms of cannabis, vehicles and documentary
evidence were recovered by police officers at various stages of the investigation
since December 29, 2005.
One of the main instigators of this conspiracy, Daniel Rivard, is also
charged with possession of property obtained by crime under section 354
of the Criminal Code.
Innovative undercover investigations
"
Organized crime knows no borders. These operations, which required the
assistance of other federal officers, show that the RCMP takes the
necessary actions to intercept drugs before they
reach our communities. Projects Cabernet and Cubain are two examples
of innovative investigations aimed at disrupting criminal organizations," said
Staff Sergeant André Potvin.
The dismantling of these two criminal organizations marks the culmination
of an investigation launched nearly two years ago by the Montréal
and Québec city Drug Sections, in partnership with New Brunswick,
Nova Scotia and British Columbia RCMP, as well as RCMP Liaison Officers
abroad. In the course of this international investigation, the RCMP also
relied on the assistance of the Canada Border Services Agency, French
customs, French National Police Office central pour la répression
du trafic illicite des stupéfiants (Central Office for the Interdiction
of Illicit Drug Trafficking) and Quebec RCMP Joint Regional Team.
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For information:
Communications Office
Montréal: (514) 939-8308
Québec city: (418) 648-7522
