Motel Saint-Jacques

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

The Motel Saint-Jacques in NDG was shut down by police in a major raid aimed to take down a prostitution, firearm and drug trafficking network that has allegedly been running through the motel for years. The owner and one employee were arrested and are facing charges of pimping and drug trafficking.

Police received a rare warrant to place the motel under a blocking order to conduct a full investigation while ensuring all operations are stopped throughout the process. All tenants occupying the 31-room motel were evicted. At the onset of the raid, the Tactical Intervention Group discovered four unconscious persons that were intoxicated in an apartment. Ten women were taken into the care of social workers belonging to the local health network. Community outreach officers from The Assistance Center for Victims of Crime (CAVAC) of the SPVM are meeting with victims in collaboration with the Health Authority (CIUSSS).

Several tenants including at least one elderly woman who live at the motel full-time received a two week notice to evacuate their motel apartments. Police officers remain on site, supervising the motel and the remaining tenants were given information on resources to help them re-house themselves elsewhere.

With the blocking order in place, the owner is prevented access to the building and cannot sell the property while the legal proceedings are in effect. This prevents a potential sale of illegal business operations, a continuation of operations under new management or any takeovers.

This operation required careful planning and consideration of the victims in order to be carried out effectively. It is rare for police to obtain a warrant for a blocking order and place a property under constant supervision. Sixty police officers from various SPVM squads, including the newly established ACCESS and Proceeds of Crime section, were deployed to shut down the motel and the alleged illegal operations that it is connected to and to maintain constant supervision.

This property has been on police radar for many years with many reports of overdoses, multiple links to underage prostitution and prostitution, pimping as well as other facets of criminal activity related to firearms and violence. n