Quebec provincial police announced the arrest of Leonardo Rizzuto, the alleged head of the Montreal Mafia, in an operation Thursday that they say will deliver a “major blow” to organized crime in the province. Rizzuto, 56, the youngest son of the late reputed Mafia boss Vito Rizzuto, was among 11 people arrested in the operation called Project Alliance, a joint investigation between the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) and Montreal police (SPVM). “This is one of the most significant police operations in recent decades,” said SQ Deputy Director Benoit Dubé at a news conference. Rizzuto, who survived a 2023 assassination attempt when his Mercedes was sprayed with bullets while he was driving on a highway, was arrested at his home in Laval, Que. Thursday during a series of early-morning raids in the Montreal area and other parts of Quebec. The alleged co-leader of the crime family, Stefano Sollecito, 57, was also arrested at his home. Rizzuto and Sollecito, along with five other co-accused, are charged with first-degree murder in the death of Lorenzo Lopresti, according to court records. Lopresti, 40, was shot dead while on his balcony on Oct. 24, 2011. Both men were also charged Thursday with conspiring to murder several men, including Lopresti, Giuseppe Renda, Moreno Gallo, Antonio Vanello, Raynald Desjardins, Joseph DiMaulo, Salvatore Montagna, and Antonio Pietrantonio between 2011 and 2019. Francis Renaud, the head of the Montreal police organized crime squad, said the suspects arrested Thursday are members of the Italian Mafia, Hells Angels, and criminal street gangs who have alleged ties to several murders in Montreal and around Quebec between 2011 and 2021. Police said the investigation was three years in the making and will destabilize key criminal networks in Quebec. All of the 11 men arrested, including three who were already in prison, are facing criminal charges. The names of the accused are: Five other suspects are still being sought by police: About 150 officers were involved in the early-morning raids in Montreal, Laval, Blainville, Shefford, Saint-Lazare, Repentigny, Quebec City and Rosemère. Larivière is accused of first-degree murder in the deaths of three men between 2017 and 2019, as well as the attempted murder of another man in 2018, the records show. Police anticipating what comes next Chief Insp. Michel Patenaude, head of criminal investigations with the SQ, told reporters Thursday that arresting Rizzuto is a “significant” development, but added that organized crime is evolving and “there is not one person that is dominating in Quebec. That’s why we have to keep pressure on every organization.” Authorities also acknowledged that other actors could eventually take the place of key figures who are put in handcuffs. “We’ve seen that in the past,” Patenaude said. “We’re anticipating what’s coming and we’re going to be ready to face it, like we have done in this case and all the other cases.” Patenaude said the hope is to send a message to criminal groups that when they commit crimes, police won’t forget and will crack down on those involved. Arrests don’t mean the end of the Mafia in Montreal: expert Mafia expert and La Presse investigative journalist Daniel Renaud told CTV News that the police operation targeted the Sicilian clan of the Montreal Mafia, which he expects will now be “weakened” but not wiped out. He agreed that another group might fill the void. Crucial to the 11 arrests in Project Alliance was convicted hitman-turned-police informant Frederick Silva, according to Renaud. Silva, who was one of Quebec’s most-wanted criminals, joined the Rizzuto crime family following the 2014 murder of gang leader Ducarme Joseph, who organized the murder of Nick Rizzuto Jr., the oldest son of Vito Rizzuto. Renaud said Silva then became close to the Rizzutos, playing a key role in decisions about murder plots and that he suspects he’s sharing his knowledge with investigators. “He knows who said what, he received and sent text messages not only with the people of the Montreal Mafia, but also from some bikers. So, he revealed all of that to the police. It’s sure that his testimony in future trials will be very important,” Renaud said in an interview. It remains to be seen what is next in store for the Sicilian Mafia in Montreal or if another group — the Calabrian clan — steps in. Those connected to the Rizzuto family were likely preparing for the future in case of a large-scale dismantling, Renaud added. Thursday’s operation is the latest in a string of police operations fighting against organized crime in the province. Earlier this month, police arrested 13 people in connection with a wave of extortion attempts at Montreal restaurants. Last month, officers targeted the Blood Family Mafia in Lévis and Sainte-Claire near Quebec City. In April, seven people were arrested after a police operation focused on the Italian Mafia. With files from CTV News’ Laurence Brisson Dubreuil.
