16 charged, 18 arrested in major operation targeting organized crime in Quebec

globalnews.ca:

100 officers from specialized units from various police forces including the RCMP were deployed. Led by the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), raids began Friday evening at multiple establishments in and around the capital city targeting those involved in conflicts between drug-dealing street gangs and more established biker clans.The ongoing conflict has resulted in a worrying uptick in violence.

Incidents included a hostage-taking on Monday in St-Malachie, Que., south of Quebec City. Two people with ties to the Hells Angels were allegedly kidnapped and tortured and a third person was killed.Authorities say the violence is linked to a drug-trafficking territory war in the Quebec City area, the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region, the Lower St-Lawrence and the North Shore.According to crown prosecutors office, nine suspects were charged on Saturday and another seven on Sunday.Francis Gauthier-Marcoux, 33, and Bianca Simard were charged with attempted murder by firearm, assault and conspiracy to commit criminal acts.Three charges were laid against Andréanne Dominique, 37, Dave Galienne-Picard, 30, Evan Lavoie, 21, and Rémi Fournier, 38, for kidnapping, forcible confinement and aggravated assault.Charlotte Montambault-Vaillancour, 32, was charged with three counts of possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking.Maxime Maheux, 26, faces two counts of arson while Nicholas Coté, 45, has been charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence and arson.The prosecution objected to the release of all nine suspects and their cases were postponed until Feb.