Searches target alleged Hells Angels in Edmundston area
Members of three police agencies are conducting drug searches in the Edmundston area on Wednesday.
According to Radio-Canada, officers from the RCMP, Edmundston Police Force, and the Sûreté du Québec are searching a home on Bellevue Street in Edmundston. Officers are also searching a property in Saint-Jacques and Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska.
Sgt. Ann Mathieu, a spokesperson with the Quebec provincial police, said the searches were related to a counter-narcotics operation taking place mostly in Quebec and the goal is gathering evidence.
"There are no [arrests] planned for the moment in that operation," said Mathieu.
"The element that we have in that investigation tells us that there is an important drug trafficking network, mainly active in the eastern part of [Quebec] and also in the New Brunswick area."
Targeting Hells Angels
Mathieu said the searches are being carried out by the National Organized Crime Squad, which is meant to target heads of organized crime.
"In this drug trafficking network that is mainly taking place in the eastern part of [Quebec] and New Brunswick is directly linked to the influential members of the Hells Angels," said Mathieu.
Mathieu said the operation is expected to last all day.
The operation includes 35 searches of residences, businesses and vehicles with 150 officers participating in both provinces.
Mathieu couldn't specify how many searches or officers were part of the New Brunswick operation.
RCMP said they couldn't comment because the operation is being directed by the Quebec provincial police.
