MAJOR DRUG OPERATION NETS LARDER LAKE MAN

LARDER LAKE -- A major drug operation has brought down key drug
players between Northern Ontario and a Montreal crime organization and
included the execution of a search warrant at a Larder Lake residence.

While no narcotics were found during the Sept. 8 raid in Larder Lake,
OPP Superintendent Ken Miller, director of operations, said evidence
was found confirming conspiracy to traffic and import.

He could not comment on the nature of the evidence.

Arrested during the execution of the search warrant was Eric Blais,
27, of Larder Lake.

The local police action was lead by OPP Det. Sgt. Rick Witty, along
with other members of the Kirkland Lake OPP, as well as other officers
from the project team. Sept. 8 various police forces, under the
direction of the RCMP, conducted more than 56 searches in Ontario and
Quebec, including one in Larder Lake, one in Kapuskasing and eight in
Timmins.

The searches were part of a three-year undercover operation named
Project Calvette by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit lead
by the RCMP, and included OPP, Timmins Police, Sorete du Quebec,
Service de police de la Ville de Montreal, and Canadian Border
Services Agency.

As well, the Canadian Coast Guard, Laval Police Department and the
Department of National Defence took part in operations in Sept-Iles

Superintendent Miller said: "We (Project Calvette) basically
dismantled a criminal organization that was well connected to
Kapuskasing, Timmins and Kirkland Lake. It was a major distributor of
narcotics and we have taken down what we believe are the key players
in this criminal organization. Law enforcement, as in newspapers or
any other organization, when you have successes of this magnitude it
is a result of the people and the partnerships.

"This was an outstanding investigation, by the project team and
certainly a great day for law enforcement.

"The substantial amount of narcotics that were taken off the road, the
seizures that were made are a direct result of the partnerships.

"Working together on this particular day were officers from Thunder
Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury Regional, Timmins, OPP and Biker
Enforcement Unit, the Drug Unit Northeast Region, and detachment members."

Superintendent Miller said the results speak for themselves and any
time you take down a criminal organization that has links to Northern
Ontario you are doing your job.

The OPP first became involved in the investigation last February.

In March the OPP put together an eight officer team called Calvette
North which included members of the OPP, Biker Enforcement Unit, OPP
Drug Enforcement and a member from Timmins City Police.

This unit worked directly with Montreal to give the information and
evidence so the searches could be conducted.

Superintendent Miller confirmed that the drug organization is tied
into the murder of Randall Servant in Timmins. The murder victim's
younger brother Maurice Servant Jr., 35, was arrested during the Sept.
8 police action.

"People we are looking at interviewing in relation to Servant are also
people who are related to project Calvette," said Superintendent Miller.

"Our investigation, which is Project Calvette, has revealed a link
between the organization in Montreal and the murder committed in
Timmins. I'm prepared to say the investigation has revealed the link
between the organization we dismantled in Montreal and a turf war for
the control and distribution of drugs in Northern Ontario. We have
that evidence and are able to say that."

Superintendent Miller believes Project Calvette has had an impact on
the distribution of drugs in Northern Ontario because they were able
to deal with key players between Northern Ontario and Montreal.

During Project Calvette, Raymond Desfosses, of Trois-Rivieres, was
arrested and the OPP believe he is a key person in the criminal
organization.

Superintendent Miller said he has quite an extensive background and
seemed to be involved in decision-making.

He said there is a possibility that more arrest could be made in
connection with Project Calvette, but at this time they have no
information indicating more arrests will be made in Northern Ontario.

As a result of information from the investigation, on Aug. 2004 the
U.S. coast guard -- at the request of Canadian authorities -- arrested
four Qubecers on La Gabriela, a 42-foot sailboat that was carrying 750
kilograms of cocaine.

This represents roughly one-third of all the cocaine intended for the
Canadian market in the last year seized last year.

As well, on April 22, 2004 CFSE officers intercepted in Sept-Iles 12
kilograms of cocaine intended for the Quebec market.

Three people, including two sailors on a cargo ship arriving from
Venezuela were arrested.

During project Calvette the police seized cannabis, hashish, firearms,
explosives, detonators, and more than $855,65 Canadian, $114,499 U.S.,
$16,495 Euros. An additional $341,500 Can. was frozen from various
bank accounts.

The people arrested have been charged with drug importation,
conspiracy to import, trafficking in drugs, money laundering, fraud,
possession of property obtained by crime and gangsterism.