COCAINE RING SMASHED, POLICE SAY

Allege group planned to import 1,000 kilos

Montreal police have nabbed four men - and have an arrest warrant for
another - who they allege are top players in a drug ring operated by a
criminal organization in Montreal.

"This is a very big arrest," said commander Mario Plante, head of the
organized-crime division.

Last night, police arrested Andrew Scoppa, a suspect in the alleged
plot to import more than 1,000 kilograms of cocaine into Canada this
month. They allege Scoppa, 49, is the ringleader in the criminal
organization.

Police arrested three men Tuesday on an east-end street. The trio had
$100,000 in cash stuffed into a large bag, Plante said.

The three were caught as they were trying to obtain 91 kilograms of
cocaine with the cash as a deposit, he said.

Antonio Teoli, 55, Michael Perna, 50, and Bruno Romanelli, 60,
appeared in court yesterday.

They face several charges, including conspiracy to traffic cocaine and
conspiracy to import cocaine.

The arrested men are to appear again in court on Dec.
18.

Police also have an arrest warrant for Joseph Farag, 34. They did not
know his whereabouts last night, Plante said.

The investigation is continuing and police did not rule out the
possibility of more arrests.

Police launched the investigation, dubbed "Project Azappare," last
June.

Plante said they had received information that a major drug ring in
Montreal planned to import cocaine to Canada from Mexico via the
United States.

They sought help from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security during
the investigation, he said.

One thousand kilograms of cocaine would have a huge street value,
Plante said, adding that one kilogram of cocaine sells for about $45,000.

"We didn't seize 1,000 kilos of cocaine," Plante said. But the
seven-month undercover operation provided police with plenty of
information, he said.

"So for us, it's a priceless investigation."