Gangster Raymond Desfossés, now 72, was arrested by Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers during a mass attack on suspected cocaine dealers in Trois-Rivières on Tuesday morning.
Two sources confirmed Desfossés’ arrest for violating his terms of release.
“We are talking about revoking his probation. Police will return him to prison pending further trial,” said Sergeant Charles Poirier, spokesman for the RCMP, but declined to confirm the suspect’s identity.
Raymond Desfossés was released from prison in 2017 after serving two-thirds of his 18-year sentence for organizing the importation of 750kg of cocaine and planning six of the 28 murders committed by hitman Gérald Gallant between 1980 and 2001 had.
Photo by ARCHIVES/VAT NEWS/QMI AGENCY
The one whom police nicknamed the “King of Cocaine” at the time is the only suspect pinned down during this RCMP operation, which was carried out in various regions of Quebec.
A total of eight “investigated” searches were carried out in the province, five at homes in Trois-Rivières, one at an apartment in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and two at businesses in Montreal and Quebec.
In recent years, however, Raymond Desfossés seems to have calmed down. In May 2019, he was even praised for his good behavior by the Parole Board of Canada (PBC), Le Journal de Montréal reported at the time.
The CLCC had even decided to relax or withdraw certain conditions it imposed on the former western gang leader when it allowed him to return home in January 2018.
However, Raymond Desfossés was prohibited from associating with criminals and from going to bars.