Montreal police arrest a dozen suspects while seizing guns and drugs in organized crime raids

Who are Montreal's anti-gun cops really arresting? Concordia professor Ted Rutland says his new study shows half of the arrests made by Montreal’s anti-gun police were for drug possession.

MONTREAL — The Montreal police (SPVM) organized crime unit picked up a dozen people Friday night in connections with a firearms and narcotics trafficking network in the greater Montreal area.

According to the SPVM, officers from the Quietude team started the operation in the summer and raided five residences and three vehicles in Montreal and Mirabel, which led to the seizure of six firearms, including pistols and military-style semi-automatic rifles.

In addition, officers seized 525 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 72.3 grams of crack cocaine, 20 grams of heroin, and 194 grams of cannabis.

Ten suspects appeared in court facing charges ranging from possession of a prohibited weapon to trafficking in firearms to possession for the purpose of trafficking illicit drugs.

The following is a list of the arrested suspects, who have appeared in court on charges:

Two more people will appear in court at a later date.