Police arrest 13 suspects in ‘major operation’ amid wave of Montreal restaurant extortion attempts

Montreal police arrested 13 people in several raids in connection with a wave of extortion attempts targeting local restaurants.

Montreal police (SPVM) arrested 13 suspects and seized various quantities of illicit drugs and firearms after what they described as a “major” operation targeting the alleged extortion of local restaurants.

More than 150 officers participated in the operation on Wednesday as raids were carried out in seven boroughs, as well as on the North Shore and South Shore, with assistance from Quebec provincial police and Châteauguay police.

The operation, which was in collaboration with the southern region’s firearms unit (EMAF) and the narcotics unit, comes after several restaurants in the Greater Montreal area were targeted by alleged arsonists and other violent acts in the last few months.

• READ MORE: Montreal police investigating whether arson at businesses, gunfire at home are connected

According to an update from the police force in the afternoon, three of the 13 suspects were “directly” linked to extortion attempts that targeted the owners of two downtown restaurants.

“Today’s operation targeted individuals who allegedly orchestrated crimes of violence and intimidation against restaurant owners and members of their entourage. We are talking about individuals who are believed to be at a higher level than the perpetrators,” said Cmdr. Pierre-Marc Houle, head of the Section des enquêtes par projet de la région sud, in a news release.

• READ MORE: Union of Quebec bar owners calls for tougher crackdown on organized crime and extortion

Searches were carried out in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Châteauguay and Laval, as well as the boroughs of Lachine, LaSalle, Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles, Sud-Ouest, Verdun and Ville-Marie.

Police say three main suspects, men aged 25, 34, and 39, were directly involved in a shooting at a restaurant on Sainte-Catherine Street West near de Bleury Street on Feb. 12. Another restaurant from the same owner, as well as one of the homes of one of the co-founders, was also targeted.

The remaining suspects are eight men and two women between the ages of 28 and 44.

“The SPVM investigation also revealed the involvement of two independent cells that allegedly attempted to extort the same restaurant owners. Members of these cells are also believed to be involved in other criminal activities such as drug trafficking,” police added.

Guns, drugs seized by police

During the searches on Wednesday, officers seized three firearms, one pound of cocaine, one pound of crystal meth, thousands of speed pills and nearly $120,000 in cash.

Some of the suspects arrested Wednesday are expected to appear in court within the next 24 hours, while others were released on a promise to appear in court under “strict” conditions.

Further arrests are possible, according to the SPVM, as it continues its investigation.

Last week, the home of one of the co-founders of A5 Hospitality was targeted twice by gunshots.

The wave of firebombings led Quebec Bar Owners Association President Peter Sergakis to pen an emphatic letter to the province, demanding that more be done to crack down on organized crime.

“Extortion has always been there, but not like this. This is extremely violent and it’s totally unacceptable,” said Sergakis.

Montreal police previously confirmed that there have been at least 20 extortion attempts against bars and restaurants since the beginning of the year.

“What we’re seeing on the street, I cannot tell you exactly why, but they’re related,” said SPVM Cmdr. Francis Renaud, of the Organized Crime Squad, told CTV News at the time.