MONTRÉAL, Friday, January 18, 2008 – Last Friday, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police dismantled a laboratory operation that produced ecstasy, methamphetamine and pills resembling Viagra and Cialis tablets in Repentigny. Two suspects were arrested and face charges of illegal drug production, possession, possession for the purpose of trafficking and trafficking under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and conspiracy to commit these offences under the Criminal Code.
The two suspects, who made their first appearance at the Montréal Court House last Tuesday, are Pierre Girouard, 61, of Montréal, and Gilles Girouard, 60, of Repentigny.
Based on their investigation in Project “Chimie” launched about three months ago, the investigators of the RCMP Clan Lab Team attended a business location on Leclerc Street in Repentigny, that was suspected of being used for the production of designer drugs.
Approximately forty police officers searched the premises on January 11 and found 44,000 ecstasy pills, 35 kilograms of bulk powder, i.e. enough to make close to 160,000 of these pills, 83,000 methamphetamine pills, 32 kilograms of bulk powder, i.e. enough to make 145,000 of these pills, 25,000 pills resembling Viagra pills, 31,000 pills resembling Cialis pills as well as a quantity of ketamine. The police officers also seized equipment used for producing designer drugs.
Pills Painted Blue
The alleged designer drug producers were unscrupulous, going as far as coating the Viagra-like pills with a blue commercial paint used on buildings to reproduce as accurately as possible genuine Viagra pills.
The RCMP officers conducted their investigation with the assistance of the Repentigny Police Service and Health Canada.
Preventing the Harm Associated with Designer Drugs
Drug enforcement is an RCMP priority. This ecstasy laboratory operation was dismantled as part of the drug enforcement mission of the RCMP, that also includes a drug awareness and prevention aspect intended for the public at large. For more information, citizens are invited to visit the RCMP Drug and Organized Crime Awareness Service Web site.
Citizens with information on anyone they believe to be involved in illegal drug-related activities are invited to contact the RCMP at (514) 939-8313. All information will be kept confidential.
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For Information:
Corporal Elaine Lavergne
Communications Office
Montréal: 514 939-8308
