EX-OFFICERS ARRESTED

MONTREAL -- Two former police officers were arrested yesterday as
part of a drug ring that made weekly shipments to the United States,
the RCMP said.

The Mounties allege that the ring was led by a 48-year-old woman from
the Mohawk territory of Kanesatake, near Montreal.

Corporal Guy Amyot said she was among the 36 people arrested and
charged during raids that took place early yesterday.

The RCMP believe "the leading organizer of this network was the lady
we arrested in Kanesatake," Cpl. Amyot said.

He said Sharon Simon has been charged with trafficking, conspiracy,
money laundering and gangsterism. The two ex-police officers were
identified as Carl Thomas, 44, who was arrested in Magog, and
40-year-old Daniel Pepin, who was taken into custody at his home in
Mirabel, north of Montreal. Both men had worked for the Magog
municipal police force in Quebec's Eastern Townships.

Cpl. Amyot added the network also had close links to Hells Angels
chapters in Montreal, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivieres, midway between
Montreal and Quebec City.

The RCMP said 42 searches were done, 24 in the Sherbrooke area, 16 in
Montreal and one in Kanesatake. A search warrant related to the drug
ring was also carried out in Indian Head, Sask. Cpl. Amyot said
police also confiscated six weapons, including an AK-47 assault
rifle, along with the seizure of cannabis, cocaine and $1-million in cash.

Police also seized 13 vehicles and two bullet-proof vests.

"This is a network that was involved in the exportation of
approximately 100 pounds of cannabis on a weekly basis to the United
States," he said. "This organization laundered about $4.8-million
(U.S.) from January to May of this year in the 35 transactions they made."

Cpl. Amyot said the drugs were shipped mainly through U.S. border
crossings at Coaticook, Que., and Cornwall, Ont., and most of the
exporting was done from the Sherbrooke area.

The other suspects face charges of conspiracy, gangsterism and money
laundering. They were to appear in court today. About 350 police
officers, including members of the RCMP, Quebec provincial police and
aboriginal police, carried out the drug raids.