BUST SHATTERED DRUG NETWORK, QUEBEC POLICE SAY

Authorities implicate Hells Angels in ring

QUEBEC -- Quebec police say they have dismantled a major drug network linked
to the Hells Angels biker gang after raids yesterday that led to the arrests
of more than 40 people, including those accusing of being the leading
figures of the Eastern Quebec drug trafficking ring.

"This is a major bust, not so much for the quantities of drugs seized but
because we arrested all the leaders of the drug ring," said Surete du Quebec
investigator Richard Gagne. "By dismantling the supply and distribution
network, it strikes a blow to the narcotics trade in the region."

More than 450 police were involved in the raids, which began early yesterday
morning in about 20 municipalities. Most of the arrests took place in the
Quebec City region, and involved individuals accused of having connections
to the trafficking of cocaine, methamphetamines and ecstasy.

The police operation began in December of 2003, and police had seized drugs
before yesterday's arrests. For instance, in the Portneuf region near Quebec
City, police had raided a laboratory that had enough chemicals to produce
two million methamphetamine pills having a street value of $40-million to
$50-million. At other locations, the equivalent of $1.5-million of cocaine
was seized, as well as $1-million in cash and 50 firearms.

The RCMP, Quebec provincial police, Quebec City police and other municipal
police forces co-operated in the investigation, dubbed Operation Despot.

Similar units were set up in Montreal, the Eastern Townships and Western
Quebec in attempts to dismantle drug-trafficking rings throughout the
province.

Mr. Gagne said the Quebec City regional network was set up with the approval
of the Hells Angels, whose Quebec City chapter was dismantled after a police
operation more than two years ago.

The prosecution of the members of the Hells Angels helped end a bloody
seven-year war that began in the late 1990s between rival biker gangs that
resulted in 27 killings.

"The drug-ring leaders were paying a commission to the Hells Angels for the
right to traffic drugs in the region," Mr. Gagne said.

"These are individuals who are not members of the biker gang but established
close ties to set up their network."

Among those arrested were Michel Guerin of Quebec City and Denis Marcoux,
whom police accuse of leading the alleged ring.

The 40 people arrested face charges including drug trafficking, conspiracy
and gangsterism.

As well, police seized at least 22 vehicles and other property belonging to
the alleged drug dealers.

Police acknowledged that although the arrests will seriously undermine drug
trafficking in the region, the dismantling of the drug network will lead to
the emergence of another.

However, the arrests appear to indicate that police techniques have become
more sophisticated and more efficient and prevent the kind of violent
confrontations between gangs that previously characterized the drug war in
Quebec.