Are there more drugs in Quebec or is the police more present? One thing is for sure, drug traffickers in the region have had a rough time in recent months as authorities went into overdrive to crack down on the black market after more than two years of the pandemic.
“The pressures of confinement and the pandemic have caused the use of narcotics, particularly methamphetamine, to skyrocket,” says Roger Ferland, a former investigator with the Quebec City Police Service (SPVQ).
According to a non-exhaustive tally by the Journal, between September 1 and December 21, the SPVQ conducted at least 19 narcotics-related searches and 38 arrests.
These searches resulted in the seizure of approximately 50,000 methamphetamine tablets, 104 kg of cannabis, 660 grams of cocaine, 500 oxycodone tablets, 1,000 cannabis plants and $128,000 in cash.
These operations also recovered more than 60 cell phones, 53 “crayons”, some firearms and handguns of all kinds, five vehicles, and a few grams of hash, oil, and cannabis edibles.
tip of the iceberg
Although the SPVQ declined to comment on the issue, Le Journal noted that it was a comeback for police in the field after two quieter years due to the pandemic.
For comparison, 28 people directly or indirectly linked to drug or cannabis trafficking were arrested during the same period, in 2020 and 2021 combined, if we rely on data released by the Quebec police.
Despite this significant increase in interventions in this area, according to Mr. Ferland, this would only be the tip of the iceberg. Organized crime, which would remotely regulate traffic in the region by imposing a sales tax, is a far cry from that.
“If we’re talking about the flow of about 2 million tablets of methamphetamine and 100kg of cocaine in Quebec in a month, we’re way off target,” he says.
To do the housework
The 38 arrests in three months are still of interest to authorities as they allow them to work the field and get to know the players selling the goods better.
“And it allows you to clean up your garden so you don’t lose control, even if you rarely reach the snake’s head and it’s impossible to stop the phenomenon entirely,” explains Mr. Ferland.
For the former investigator, it would be possible to improve the efficiency of units specializing in drug trafficking by being able to finance themselves with the money and goods they seize from dealers.
Trafficker caught in the act
Fall 2022
- 38 arrests
- $128,000
- 104kg cannabis
- 660 grams of cocaine
- 50,000 Methamphetamine tablets
- 1000 cannabis plants
- 302 grams of hash
- 500 oxycodone tablets
- 53 “crayon”
- 45ml cannabis oil
- 12 grams of edible cannabis derivatives
- 2 firearms
- 3 Bladed weapons prohibited
Fall 2021
- 9 arrests
- $180,000
- 3.4kg cannabis
- 4kg from cocaine
- 160 grams of cannabis wax
- 1 prohibited firearm
Fall 2020 *
- 19 arrests
- $43,300
- 1000 Methamphetamine tablets
- 300 grams of cocaine
- 450 cannabis plants
- A certain amount of hashish
- 2 firearms
* dates are missing regarding seizures of a operation that has led to 11 arrests.
Source: According to the Service de Police de la Ville de Québec, compiled by The newspaper, between 1ah September and December 21 of each year
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