The son of deceased mob boss Vito Rizzuto is among dozens arrested in police raids targeting organized crime in Montreal.
In a news conference on Thursday, police said 48 people were arrested in raids they say targeted “high-level” members of organized crime groups, including the Italian Mafia, Hells Angels and street gangs.
Police said their 34-month investigation focused on a criminal alliance that allegedly controls drug trafficking and money laundering in Montreal.
Leonardo Rizzuto, son of Vito, was among those arrested, as was Gregory Wooley, the alleged head of the street gang the Syndicates; Stefano Sollecito, alleged head of the Montreal Mafia who was picked up by police at his home in the Montreal suburb of Terrebonne; and Salvatore Cazzetta, who’s believed to be the leader of the Hells Angels in Quebec.
It is believed that the men were part of a ring that controlled most of the cocaine and other drug trades in the Montreal area.
Convicted killer Maurice “Mom” Boucher was also arrested in his cell at the maximum security prison where he is currently serving a murder sentence.
He is expected to be charged with conspiring to kill his former associate, drug trafficker Raynald Desjardins.
Speaking with reporters, Surete du Quebec Lt. Benoit Dube alleged that Boucher and his associates wanted to kill Desjardins to “control the territory,” by dealing with an “adversary.”
A lawyer who has represented the Rizzuto family is also among the people arrested, police said.
More than 200 police officers were involved in the raids Thursday, conducted as part of a 34-month joint operation involving the RCMP, Surete du Quebec and municipal police services.
With files from CTV Montreal’s Rob Lurie
