The Port of Montreal is working to lose its reputation as Canada’s drug-smuggling hub.

Last year was a record breaking one for the port: More than 28 million tonnes of cargo passed through, more than ever before.

But questions persist about the security of one of Canada’s busiest shipping entry points.

“Montreal, as [with] any other port in the country, because of the volume, it’s normal that we’re intercepting huge amount of illicit drugs and goods,” said Alain Surprenant, chief of operations with the Canadian Border Services Agency at the Montreal port.
Border services said the value of drugs seized at the Port of Montreal was more than all other Canadian ports combined in 2009.

Only a few weeks ago, authorities intercepted $14 million worth of cocaine at the port, concealed in bottles of sunflower oil.

Sylvie Vachon, president of the Montreal Port Authority, said they are working with police and border services to make the port more secure and improve its reputation.

“We try very hard to be a port that’s integrated [into the] community and for sure this image is not a good image for us,” she said.

Montreal has long been a hub for the drug trade because of its proximity to the U.S., crime expert André Cédilot told CBC News.

Organized crime

Criminal organizations like the Mafia and the Hell’s Angels have used contacts within the port to smuggle the drugs past authorities, he said.

“Even if the police arrest people, organized crime continues to infiltrate the port,” he said.

“Most of the big importers, the main people, they’re in Montreal.”

It’s only been in the past 10 years that authorities have cracked down on drug smuggling through the port, Cédilot said.

The RCMP has a permanent squad in the Montreal port, and that could be part of the reason why the volume of drugs intercepted there is so high, he said.

Surprenant said all ships entering any Canadian port now have to report their cargo before they reach Canada so authorities can better assess which containers to intercept.

“We’re working together (with the RCMP) to minimize the impact that organized crime could have on importation at the port,” he said.

Source: cbc.ca

You should post the source, Strax. Just copy-pasting news articles without adding the source is considered plagiarism.

I forgot to post it,thanks.Fixed.

lay off the poor guy!

I'm just saying, that's all.

And u should i made mistake,so again thanks u did nice thing.

C'mon guys, it's too cold to open up the sandbox. Just drop it.

Organized crime expert [Anna Sergi] explains how drugs move through the Port of Montreal

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1947345475693

I'm curious which groups these days actually control the Montreal port these days.

My guess is on the Mafia, Hells Angels, Haitian gangs and the Maronite-Lebanese clans based in Laval.

The "West End Gang", as an actual powerful criminal organization, seems to be basically non-existent nowadays.

What I find strange about the Irish is similar to the Krays is the homosexual/bisexuality, similar to Jim Bulger. In other circles it’s the Mano Nero and La Stidda, St. Paul’s Catherdal in Boston or Bishop Ryan in Hamilton.

what’s the beef between the Irish and Italians? How did it ever start? Curse of the Great Bambino? Yankees vs Red Socks?

I have to be honest. You are all over the place on your posts and I don't what you are getting at. Brian Mcgrattan, the hockey player is with the Mob?? You posted a dating site? All Irish people are gay? Yankees vs Red Sox?? Babe Ruth? WTF!!

I’m sorry my English, it’s hard to communicate perfectly when I’m in the zone typing, Mi Dispiace!

Hells Angels have maintained a foothold in Canada’s three largest ports — Vancouver, Montreal and Halifax — for the past 35 years.

the last vestige of matticks influence at the port would have been through bryan forget who was richard matticks bro-in-law allied with alain charron a large scale importer of hash and coke.

Indeed - you can also have a look at cases here -

https://www.canlii.org/fr/qc/qccs/d...bnRyZWFsIHBvcnQAAAAAAQ&resultIndex=2

https://www.canlii.org/en/qc/qccs/d...bnRyZWFsIHBvcnQAAAAAAQ&resultIndex=1

Having read Dr Sergi's research (https://www.amazon.com/Port-Crime-Interface-Organised-Corruption-Seaports-ebook/dp/B088KMMHC4) and https://www.researchgate.net/public...treal_and_the_port_of_New_YorkNew_Jersey it seems that authorities essentially say that just for the port some existing link with the West End is still active but also Italians and others are participating as gatekeepers to the port.