Pubdate: Thu, 11 Jul 2002
Source: Hamilton Spectator (CN ON)
Copyright: The Hamilton Spectator 2002
Contact:  http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/181
Author: Jennifer Chiu

$95-MILLION DRUG BUST

Police say a two-year operation that led to a $95-million drug bust and 
arrests in three provinces started in Hamilton. Authorities seized illegal 
drugs in Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia in one of the largest busts in 
recent history. The bulk was seized in Southern Ontario -- about 268 
kilograms of cocaine, and much smaller amounts of hashish and marijuana.

The cocaine, stored in plastic bags, blanketed two long tables at the RCMP 
office on Main Street East and was heavily guarded by armed officers. There 
was so much cocaine that several fans couldn't mask the odour.

The RCMP have arrested at least 17 people in Ontario, including Andre 
Gravelle of Ancaster and his brother Paul of Lynden.

Both have histories of drug convictions.

Police said yesterday they have arrested at least six people from the 
Hamilton area and have a warrant for another. Charges range from possession 
and trafficking to conspiracy to import narcotics.

The RCMP said the arrests have dealt a major blow to organized crime in 
Canada. They claim to have dismantled four major crime networks in 
Hamilton, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax.

"We know who they are," said Staff Sergeant Kevin Payne of the RCMP 
Hamilton Drug Section. "Now, others who may have thought about co-operating 
with (the networks) will have to think twice because police will be watching."

Operation Olco started two years ago when the drug section of the Hamilton 
RCMP was told that individuals at the port of Halifax were offering 
criminal networks access to the docks for drug smuggling purposes, Payne 
said. Drugs had allegedly come from Panama, Chile, Colombia and the 
Caribbean into the port and was then distributed across Canada.

The Hamilton drug section relayed its information to the RCMP in Halifax, 
and the two units co-operated on the investigation. As the investigation 
grew, other RCMP units, Canada Customs and municipal police services were 
involved.

"It was like a spiderweb," Payne said. "It just spread. Now that we made 
(the bust), a lot of people are calling us and saying we did a good job. 
But the co-operation was tremendous."

The operation's climax came this week when police conducted simultaneous 
early morning raids in the three provinces. Among those arrested in 
Montreal is Steven Bertrand, who has ties to the Hells Angels Nomad biker 
chapter in Montreal and its leader Maurice "Mom" Boucher.

RCMP Inspector Linda Martell said there is a Hells Angels' connection in 
southern Ontario, but would not elaborate because of a continuing 
investigation and a sweeping publication ban. RCMP would provide no details 
about when or where the ban was imposed. Publication bans are imposed by 
judges hearing trials. Generally, they are meant to ensure an accused 
person has a fair trial by keeping certain inflammatory evidence out of the 
public domain.

Andre Gravelle, 38, and Paul Gravelle, 55, of Hamilton were arrested in a 
pre-dawn raid Tuesday morning. The brothers were convicted a decade ago in 
an international police operation for smuggling a marijuana derivative from 
the Caribbean into the United States.

As part of Operation Olco, police have also seized about $4 million in 
assets or proceeds of crime in Ontario including jewelry, expensive cars, 
motor homes and gold bars. RCMP Cpl. Michele Paradis said none of Andre 
Gravelle's or Paul Gravelle's assets have been seized.

Another $4.27 million in assets was seized in Quebec and Nova Scotia, along 
with more than $200,000 in cash.

Yesterday's announced arrests included 72-year-old Michael Zaduk of Guelph, 
who survived a vicious home invasion last March.

Many details regarding the investigation remain under wraps because of the 
publication ban.

Police would not disclose where most of the Ontario's drugs were seized, or 
if other gangs besides the Hells Angels were involved.

They wouldn't say how much of the drugs was intended for Hamilton's streets.

But of the 3,700 marijuana plants seized -- $3.7 million street value -- 
many were from grow operations in the Hamilton area, Payne said. Many of 
those cases were passed onto Hamilton police, which also played a role in 
the RCMP operation. The two drug departments share information every day, 
said Superintendent Ken Leendertse, who stressed the city's drug problem is 
not out of control.

"It's not like Hamilton is drug-infested," Leendertse said. Leendertse said 
local police are focusing on the lower levels of the drug network, or those 
who work on the street.

[SIDEBAR]

AT A GLANCE

What: Canada's biggest drug bust

Name: Project Olco

How many arrested: About 30 by yesterday afternoon with about 10 more still 
sought by police in Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario.

Seized: 317 kilograms of cocaine; 428 kilograms of hashish; 676 kilograms 
of marijuana; 159 kilograms of hash oil; 3,700 marijuana plants; $8.48 
million worth of cars, trucks, jewellery, furniture, bank accounts and 
cash. The drug value was estimated by police to be $95 million.
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