Police operation breaks up Quebec drug-trafficking ring

More than 650officers withQuebec provincial police, the RCMP, and the Montreal and Laval police force, as well as smallerregional police forces, brokeupa drug-trafficking ring in southern Quebec on Wednesday.

Operations targeted nearly 50 locations, notably inSt-Eustache, Terrebonne, Quebec City and Saguenay.

Police arrested69 peopleandseized large quantities of drugs as well as vehicles, money and firearms.

Police say the networks were linked to organized crime, including the Hells Angels and the Red Devils.

The drug trafficking network allegedly sold marijuana, cocaine and synthetic drugs including methamphetamineand ecstasy.

The operation was the result of a 16-month long investigation that police say originated with two incidents of arson around Alma, in the Saguenay region.

Police linked the fires to a turf war between rival drug-trafficking gangs in the area.

Lead investigator Patrick Blanger of the Sret du Qubectold reporters on Wednesday that one of the groups targeted in the operation has been linked to numerous acts of violence,

"Threats, extorsion, assault and arson was all part of their operating method," he said.

The majority of those arrestedare expected in court on Thursday.