Hells Angels associate gunned down in Sainte-Thrse

Quebec provincial police are investigating the shooting death of a man believed to have ties to the Hells Angels Thursday night inSainte-Thrse, north of Laval.

The victim, identified as Sylvain thier, 51, was shot at least once as he left his home on desCamlias Street, a quiet, residential area.He later died in hospital.

Regional police transferred the investigation to the Sret du Qubecdue tothe nature of the crime.

Friday morning, police were at the scene searching for clues with a metal detector.So far, police have made no arrests.

Allegations of smuggling tobacco

thier was one of 60 people arrested in March as part of an SQ operation that targeted an allegedcross-border contraband tobacco ring.

Police said their investigation showsindividuals bought tobacco in the United States and illegally imported it to Canada via the border crossings at Lacolle, Lansdowne and Fort Erie for sale in South ShoreKahnawakeand the Six Nations territoryin Ontario.

According to police, thier was one of the masterminds of the operation.

Police say the group illegally imported 2,294 tonnes of tobacco between August 2014 and March 2016,amountingto $530 million in fraud against the provincial and federal government.

Sylvain Tremblay, a former SQ investigator who worked on cases involving biker gangs, said thier was a bar owner and was involved in drug trafficking.

Tremblay said he believes Hells Angels memberswho are getting out of prison are cleaning house.

"They're trying to restore order among those who wouldn't toe the line," he told Radio-Canada.