Sophie Demers

LJI Reporter

Gatineau Police have been conducting investigations over the past few weeks after receiving information from residents about tobacco and narcotic smuggling. Gatineau police, as well as members of the ACCES team, a team dedicated to stopping the illegal tobacco trade throughout Quebec, conducted two searches.

The first search took place on May 8 in a Lac-Beauchamp residence on rue Hurtubise. During the search, a 56-year-old man was arrested, and police seized 29 cartons of 200 cigarettes, over six grams of cocaine, and a 2022 Mitsubishi Mirage vehicle.

The second search was for two vehicles that were intercepted on the Guy-Lafleur highway near Thurso on June 5, around 3 pm. Sûreté du Québec (SQ) aided Gatineau Police in intercepting the vehicles. On the scene, two men, aged 54 and 69, were arrested.

After searching the cars, the police seized 160 cartons of 200 cigarettes, six packs of cigarettes, over 25 grams of cocaine, approximately 30 grams of an unidentified white powder and 100 Canadian dollars. One of the vehicles, a 2005 Ford Ranger truck, was seized.