7 arrested in Montreal area police raids targeting drug network

Seven menare in custody after aseries of police raids in the Montreal area Wednesday morning targeting a drug-trafficking network with links toorganized crime.

Police executed warrantsin Montreal, Laval, le Bizard and Blainville.

In a news release, provincial police saidthey seizedalmost$1 million in cash and four guns, along with 113 kilograms of cocaine, 60 empty one-kilogram bags for packaging cocaine, 127 kilograms of marijuana, 50,000 methamphetamine pills, 15 kilograms of thelocal anaesthetic procaineand one kilogram of MDMA.

The operation, dubbed ProjectEstacade,followedraids mounted in November 2015 that targeted a drug-trafficking network run by Montreal's Mafia, Hells Angels and street gangs.

Police rounded up 48 people in the 2015 raids.Those arrested and charged include Maurice (Mom)Boucher, the imprisoned former boss of the Hells Angels in Quebec, his daughter Alexandra Mongeau and Leonardo Rizzuto, sonof thelongtimepatriarch of Montreal's Mafia,Vito Rizzuto, whodied of natural causes in 2013.

• Quebec police conduct major raids linked to drugs, organized crime

Network 'very active' in cocaine trade

Police describedthe network targeted by Wednesday'sraids as "very active" in Montreal'scocaine trade.

The seven men wereexpected to appear in a Montreal court Wednesday afternoon to face charges.

Officers werestill looking for an eighth man, 40-year-old Nicola ValianteofLaval.

Provincial police spokesman Sgt.Daniel Thibodeau said the mencould face a variety of charges.

"There will be a whole mixed bag of charges related todrugtrafficking, possibly gangsterism, but the charges have yet to be approved by the Crown prosecutors," he said.

"We'll know a bit more this afternoon once they appear in court, and the exact charges will be laid out."