Police arrest 27 in crackdown on Montreal area cocaine ring
The alleged ringleader in a plot to smuggle more than 1,000 kilos of cocaine from Peru into Canada learned Wednesday he must wait several days before he can seek bail after his arrest in a major drug bust.
Salvatore D’Urso, 50, of Laval, appeared before a judge via a video link-up between the Montreal courthouse and a holding cell at the Sûreté du Québec’s headquarters on Parthenais St. where he was informed his case will be remanded to next week.
D’Urso was one of 20 people scheduled to appear at the courthouse Wednesday, and several were informed the prosecution has more evidence to turn over to defence lawyers.
Operation Matamore resulted in a morning roundup of alleged drug traffickers, some with ties to the Mafia in Montreal and street gangs, the SQ said. Twenty-seven people were arrested.
In addition, the SQ has a warrant for Dickens Jolicoeur of Repentigny.
Jolicoeur, 39, has an extensive criminal record and was identified in the past as a member of the Crack Down Posse, a Montreal street gang.
Before the hearing, defence lawyers were handed two thick volumes summarizing the investigation that began in May 2009. A prosecutor said more material is to come before bail hearings can be scheduled.
According to a court document, the SQ uncovered a plan to bring to 1,100 kilograms of cocaine from Peru in January. The cocaine never made it to Canada.
SQ investigators followed D’Urso for several weeks last winter while he would meet with Montreal resident John Pena-Pineda, 56, who was convicted in the U.S. more than a decade ago.
Originally from Colombia, Pena-Pineda served a 78-month sentence for negotiating a deal to bring 100 kilograms of cocaine into the U.S. He began serving the sentence in the U.S. but was allowed to transfer to Canada in March 2001 where he completed the prison term.
The court document alleges Pena-Pineda and D’Urso met several times — sometimes in the latter’s Nissan Altima and sometimes in fast-food restaurants in Montreal North — to go over details of their deal.
Pena-Pineda is described as having a relative in Peru who could supply a large amount of cocaine.
A group of Montreal residents was expected to handle transport of the cocaine in exchange for 35 per cent of the load if successful.
The alleged leader of that group, Eric Lucas, 40, was among the 27 people arrested Wednesday.
The case returns to court on Sept. 13.
Salvatore D’Urso, 50, of Laval, appeared before a judge via a video link-up between the Montreal courthouse and a holding cell at the Sûreté du Québec’s headquarters on Parthenais St. where he was informed his case will be remanded to next week.
D’Urso was one of 20 people scheduled to appear at the courthouse Wednesday, and several were informed the prosecution has more evidence to turn over to defence lawyers.
Operation Matamore resulted in a morning roundup of alleged drug traffickers, some with ties to the Mafia in Montreal and street gangs, the SQ said. Twenty-seven people were arrested.
In addition, the SQ has a warrant for Dickens Jolicoeur of Repentigny.
Jolicoeur, 39, has an extensive criminal record and was identified in the past as a member of the Crack Down Posse, a Montreal street gang.
Before the hearing, defence lawyers were handed two thick volumes summarizing the investigation that began in May 2009. A prosecutor said more material is to come before bail hearings can be scheduled.
According to a court document, the SQ uncovered a plan to bring to 1,100 kilograms of cocaine from Peru in January. The cocaine never made it to Canada.
SQ investigators followed D’Urso for several weeks last winter while he would meet with Montreal resident John Pena-Pineda, 56, who was convicted in the U.S. more than a decade ago.
Originally from Colombia, Pena-Pineda served a 78-month sentence for negotiating a deal to bring 100 kilograms of cocaine into the U.S. He began serving the sentence in the U.S. but was allowed to transfer to Canada in March 2001 where he completed the prison term.
The court document alleges Pena-Pineda and D’Urso met several times — sometimes in the latter’s Nissan Altima and sometimes in fast-food restaurants in Montreal North — to go over details of their deal.
Pena-Pineda is described as having a relative in Peru who could supply a large amount of cocaine.
A group of Montreal residents was expected to handle transport of the cocaine in exchange for 35 per cent of the load if successful.
The alleged leader of that group, Eric Lucas, 40, was among the 27 people arrested Wednesday.
The case returns to court on Sept. 13.
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