Montreal police bust 2 fentanyl trafficking rings, arrest 10 during raids

Montreal police have arrested 10 people and dismantled two drug trafficking rings in connection witha recent spate of fentanyl-related deaths and overdoses in the city.

Last Friday, officers from the Montreal police service's violent crimes unit carried out two operations, executing seven search warrants and arrestingthe suspects.

The two drug rings, which police say trafficked in heroin and fentanyl, were related to criminal biker gangs, saidCmdr. Christine Christie.

Police seized19 grams of fentanyl, 13 grams of heroin, 225 grams of cocaine, 24 grams of crack and $3,010 in cash.

Seven of the 10 people arrested Friday appeared in court over the weekend and have been charged with crimes related to drug trafficking and possession. They are:

• Yann Bouthillette, 33.
• Alain Julien, 28.
• Dominique Gauthier, 23.
• Franois Vallires, 48.
• Joey Marcil, 19.
• Dominique Leblanc, 20.
• Steven Lallemant, 20.

The arrests were related to at least six recentfentanyl-relateddeaths and a number of overdoses, Christie said.