Two Laval residents and a Montrealer suspected of laundering nearly $20 million in less than a year and with ties to the Colombian cartels are facing trial for their actions.
Yan Trépanier, 49, Michael-Joey D’Opéra, 27, both from Laval, and Montreal native Andrew Barera, 35, are charged with felony money laundering, conspiracy to import and possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking and possession of prohibited weapons devices .
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had already carried out searches as part of this investigation last July. They then seized $46,000 in cash, firearms, a silencer and business books.
The RCMP had been traced to the three suspects according to information provided to them by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the United States in March 2020.
The investigation revealed that the trio had laundered more than $18 million in less than a year.
The performance of Mr. Trépanier, D’Opéra and Berera is due to take place on July 15 at the Montreal Courthouse.