Large-scale sweep operation linked to armed violence and drugs in Quebec

Police officers from several Sûreté du Québec (SQ) units, assisted by members of the Saguenay Police Department, the Quebec City Police Department (SPVQ) and the Quebec Correctional Services (SCQ) carried out a major sweep operation on Wednesday in connection with cases of armed violence.

According to the provisional report, 35 arrests and 15 searches were carried out in connection with more than 30 different events that occurred in recent weeks and months.

These occurred throughout Quebec, but particularly in the eastern part of the province, according to the SQ. 

“These events are not all connected, but they all have the same backdrop: drug control and the violence that results from it,” said Chief Inspector and Director of Criminal Investigations at the SQ, Michel Patenaude, at a press conference. 

He said that “all allegiances are targeted.”

The SQ classifies its operations into three levels: local, regional and the top brass. The recent arrests concern “mainly levels one and two,” said Patenaude. 

“Criminal organizations are resilient, they adapt to police investigations. We must destabilize them and put constant pressure on them. We will continue to keep the pressure at all levels,” he added. 

He was keen to emphasize “the close collaboration with the Quebec Correctional Service, other police services and partners.”

“The teams were working as early as 6 a.m. this morning in several regions of Quebec, including the Côte-Nord, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, the Quebec City region and Gaspésie. Several individuals arrested appeared and are facing various charges, including kidnapping, sequestration, armed assault, discharge of a firearm, arson and drug trafficking,” said Patenaude.

Despite this sweep, “many other operations are still underway,” the provincial police said. 

A heavy toll 

The SQ took the opportunity to take stock of its actions carried out in 2024 in the conflict over drug control.

“Throughout the year, actions were carried out, including the creation of a joint team in Sept-Îles, the deployment of special ad hoc investigation teams on the Côte-Nord and in the greater Quebec region, the coordination of Operation Scandaleux , the deployment of a joint investigation team in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, numerous visits to licensed establishments, as well as a partnership with the BOLO program,” listed Patenaude.

These actions allowed the SQ to make more than 320 arrests and seize 126 weapons.

Analysis by the Quebec Firearms Detection Centre reveals that half of the illegal handguns seized were imported illegally, almost all of them from the United States.

About 10 cell phones were also seized from cells in correctional facilities. They will be used by police to try to “obtain information on alleged offences.”

In addition, the SQ is asking for the public’s help in locating David Boucher-Trottier in relation to assault and a kidnapping committed in Saguenay last February.

The 25-year-old man is wanted on an arrest warrant with three counts: aggravated assault, kidnapping and sequestering an individual. 

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews