Investigators from the National Organized Crime Repression Squad (ENRCO), led by the Sûreté du Québec, beat an organization late in the week that it said could produce 10,000 methamphetamine tablets an hour and was active in the Quebec and Beauce regions.
Posted at 11:35am
Detectives conducted half a dozen searches of homes, businesses and cars on Quebec’s south coast and in Beauce on Saturday and Sunday.
They got their hands on 18,000 methamphetamine pills, over 23 kilograms of crystal meth, 900 kilograms of products used in manufacturing, a pill press and other manufacturing equipment.
Police believe that with such an amount of product and equipment, the suspects would have been able to manufacture more than two million tablets.
Police also seized more than 250 grams of cocaine, more than 930 cannabis plants, more than 100 kilograms of cannabis in various forms, six long guns and brass knuckles.
Three men, aged 30, 36 and 40, were arrested but as the searches are being investigated they have been released pending further investigation.
You could potentially be charged with the manufacture, trafficking and possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.
“I pay the price”
Notably, one of the arrested suspects, Mathieu Isabelle, 36, announced his arrest himself on Facebook on Saturday.
PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK
Mathieu Isabelle was arrested during the searches last Saturday.
“Today, January 7th, 2023, I was visited by SQ ENRCO, friends and family. Several search warrants have been issued on my property. I have made life choices that I will pay the price for, only I ask that you limit communications with me for at least a few months so that it does not harm anyone but me. Sincerely, as I can see the events, according to the information received, I will spend several years in prison. Have a good time everyone! I was released earlier in the evening but I believe I will receive further visits in the coming weeks as the evidence is analyzed and processed. I am really sorry for any inconvenience that friends and acquaintances may suffer, “announced Mathieu Isabelle in his publication, some passages of which have been checked and corrected by La Presse.
According to our research, Mr. Isabelle has no prior convictions related to narcotics.
There is currently no evidence that the group had any ties to the Hells Angels, although police claim they control methamphetamine trafficking in Quebec.
ENRCO’s mandate is to attack the masterminds of organized crime, including members of the Hells Angels. ENRCO Québec consists of police officers from the Sûreté du Québec, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Québec and Lévis Police Services.
To reach Daniel Renaud, dial 514.285-7000, extension 4918, write to [email protected] or write to the La Presse mailing address.