Projet Mèche: Police tackle extortion and criminal threats made towards merchants in Laval and Montreal

Representatives from the Montreal police force (SPVM), the Laval police force (SPL) and Quebec’s provincial police (SQ) held a joint press conference to announce they’re part of a coordinated investigation and visibility project, named Projet Mèche.

Their goal? To better tackle organized crime threats made to merchants in Laval and parts of Montreal.

Since April 2022, police say that Laval merchants have been the target of criminal threats, extorsion, and arson attacks.

“When we started our investigation,” said Laval police officer Kimon Christopoulos, coordinator and spokesperson for Projet Mèche, and inspector with the SPL Major Crimes Division. “We saw that our neighbours had the same problems. From that moment on we came together to put an end to this violence and we unified because we don’t accept that our merchants are victims of these crimes.”

Police say that a total of 67 criminal events have taken place in Laval (often in the Chomedey area, primarily on Curé-Labelle Blvd.) and the northern tip of Montreal.

Most of the Montreal cases involve Police Station 7, said police officers at the press conference which is in the Ville-St-Laurent borough.

Press conference on Projet Mèche, with Montreal and Laval police, and Sûreté du
Québec. (CREDIT: Martin Daigle, CityNews image)Similarities seen in most of the cases

Police say that right from the start they saw similarities in most of the cases.

The territory targeted was always in and around Laval.

Authorities say the victims were mainly from the Arab community – and organized crime and street gangs were almost always implicated.

Police are remaining mum on the details for now, not wanting to compromise ongoing investigations.

“I wouldn’t be able to tell you how many arsons, how many extortion (attempts), how many thefts or assaults at this moment,” said officer Christopoulos.

A total of 19 arrests were made last year in connection to these related events. Most of the people arrested were known to police and were charged with various criminal activities, gun and drug possession.

Police say they expect more arrests in the weeks and months to come, but they don’t have a more specific timeline.

No tolerance for violence

Police urge the public to come forward with any information that could be useful.

In the Laval region, they can call the Info-Line at 450-662-INFO (4636).

In the Montreal region, they can call any police station, 911 or the Montreal Info-Crime Line, at 514-393-1133.

In the rest of Quebec, the SQ’s central hotline, at 1-800-659-4264.

“The message that we’re sending our merchants and our citizens: this violence will not be tolerated,” said officer Christopoulos.

“We are there to support them, they are our priority. We urge them to call us. We are there to help.”