Montreal police arrested nine people Wednesday night who allegedly took part in a drug-trafficking operation.
One of the arrested is Jean-Philippe Celestin, who police allege is the mastermind of a group with ties to street gangs.
All nine arrested men appeared at the Court of Quebec on Thursday: Celestin, 34; Glenold Billy Fleury, 25; William Routhier Ouellet, 29; Mussa Ali Gulud, 43; Jean-François Lapointe, 31; Josue Ivan Flores Bojorquez, 26; René Ouellet, 53; Juan Carlos Suarez, 25; Brayan Pena Christian Suarez, 25.
They face various charges related to drugs, charges of conspiracy and receiving stolen money.
Two of the men, Celestin and Lapointe, also face an additional charge of gangsterism.
The investigation, which began in 2014, was directed at a narcotic distribution network for heroin and cocaine, primarily in licensed establishments on St-Laurent Blvd. in the Plateau-Mont-Royal.
Police also seized small quantities of heroin, marijuana and cocaine, $1,300 and a cell phone.
The investigation is not finished and more arrests will follow, police said.
