RCMP Agent Pretended to Be Drug Lord to Threaten Montreal Officer, Court Told Former Montreal police officer Pierre Goulet was tricked into thinking a Colombian drug cartel suspected him of betraying the cocaine smuggling network he had worked for, his defence lawyer said yesterday. Because of this, Gerald Souliere argued in Quebec Court, Goulet feared for his life and took part in new crimes during a RCMP sting operation, which otherwise he wouldn't have done. Goulet pleaded guilty in June to two counts of transporting the proceeds of crime and four counts of possession of proceeds of crime. Goulet brought more than $1 million across the U.S. border for his childhood friend Bernard Mondou, who was using the money to buy hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombian drug lord Elias Cobos-Munoz. Goulet carried the money during a series of trips between Feb. 1, 2000, and Jan. 31, 2002, flashing his police badge when he arrived at customs. [continues 333 words]
Investigative Reporter Says He Was Blocked As He Looked Into Heroin Sting In Thailand An investigative journalist says he was stonewalled by the RCMP when he tried to find out why Alain Olivier ended up in a Thai prison after being used by the Mounties in a drug sting. Victor Malarek, who was working for the Globe and Mail when Olivier landed in jail in the late 1980s, said he first learned of the case when the RCMP sent out a news release regarding Operation Deception. [continues 332 words]
Heroin Addict Didn't Want to Take Part in Thailand Sting, Court Hearing Told The RCMP should have known Alain Olivier was never a big player in drug circles when they recruited him for an undercover sting operation in Thailand, a lawyer argued yesterday. Calling his client's behaviour "Mickey Mouse," lawyer Francois Audet grilled a retired RCMP corporal in Quebec Superior Court on why Olivier was targeted by the Mounties. "You pretended he was this big guy with connections and you were going to drag him over to Thailand and have him executed," Audet told Barry Bennett during Bennett's second day on the stand. "Why? Did you hate his guts? Was it your position that all low-life dopers should be dragged to Thailand?" [continues 319 words]
Alain Olivier was a small-time drug addict who alleges he was used by the RCMP to set up a drug deal in Thailand, then was sentenced to life in prison for his deed. Now, almost 20 years later, he's suing the RCMP for $47.5 million for entrapment. The suit contends the RCMP "relentlessly hounded Olivier through ... threats and intimidation" for 20 months - a charge the RCMP's Public Complaints Commission later supported. Olivier, a Drummondville resident with no previous criminal record, finally obliged because he was afraid he'd be killed. [continues 306 words]
Research Into Drug's Effects On Brain Aims To Find Ways To Curb Cravings MONTREAL - Human guinea pigs in an unusual McGill University study are being given cocaine for free so researchers can chart the effects of the highly addictive drug on the brain with hopes of finding ways to curb strong cravings. The study -- which at first glance may raise some eyebrows -- was deemed the best in a competition for funding in the medical category of research related to brain behaviour. [continues 438 words]
In an unusual McGill University study, human subjects are being given cocaine so researchers can chart the effects of the highly addictive drug on the brain with hopes of finding ways to curb strong cravings. The study -- which at first glance may raise some eyebrows -- was deemed the best in a competition among about 50 applicants for funding in the medical category of research related to brain behaviour. Its author, Marco Leyton, a professor in the university's psychology department, said about 35 per cent of people who use cocaine will become addicted and end up with serious problem. [continues 219 words]
MONTREAL -- Human guinea pigs in an unusual McGill University study are being given cocaine for free so researchers can chart the effects of the highly addictive drug on the brain with hopes of finding ways to curb strong cravings. The study -- which at first glance may raise some eyebrows -- was deemed the best in a competition among about 50 applicants for funding in the medical category of research related to brain behaviour. Its author, Marco Leyton, a professor in the university's psychology department, said about 35 per cent of people who use cocaine will become addicted and end up with serious problem. [continues 442 words]
The recent arrests of people guarding marijuana plantations has prompted the Surete du Quebec to caution outdoor enthusiasts against taking a closer look at what's going on. "Avoid approaching these areas. Leave and contact the police who are prepared to intervene in these growing areas," said SQ spokesman Const. Louis-Philippe Ruel. On Tuesday morning SQ officers went to raid a plantation on Robert Savage Road in South Stukely. Spotted during an aerial operation a few days earlier, investigators arriving on the scene believed they'd spotted at least four individuals armed with rifles and shotguns. The SQ tactical squad was called in. [continues 263 words]
Wants To Repay Society For Role In Drug Ring By Some Other Means Former Montreal cop Pierre Goulet is willing to do anything - even donate blood - to avoid going to jail for getting involved with an international drug dealing ring. At his sentencing hearing yesterday, Goulet, who'd been on the force for 14 years before being suspended upon his arrest in June 2006, asked to repay society through other means. "Prison was very difficult," Goulet said of his six weeks behind bars before being released on bail on Aug. 8, 2006. "I could do community work, or volunteer somewhere. [continues 423 words]
MONTREAL -- He was a veteran law-enforcement officer with a fascination for organized crime. And nothing in his police career had been as thrilling as working as a money courier for the mob. That was what Pierre Goulet told the Colombian trafficker who came to visit him last summer. Mr. Goulet explained how, by flashing his Montreal police badge, he repeatedly got through the Quebec-New York State border, driving millions of dollars to Miami to pay cocaine suppliers. He said he worked on behalf of a childhood friend now with the mob. [continues 574 words]
Montreal Not the Highest of Them All Though Montreal and Toronto may be hot spots on the North American party circuit, according to a new study done by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), there are actually lower concentrations of substance abuse in both areas and in the corridor of land in between. The study, entitled "Geographical Variation in the Prevalence of Problematic Substance Use in Canada," was co-authored by three researchers from CAMH, and it discovered that there were markedly lower concentrations of substance abusers in both Quebec and Ontario as opposed to higher rates in both Eastern and Western Canada. [continues 228 words]
The sip: Hemp Bliss organic hemp milk The price: $4.99 for a 946-mL carton The smell: Walnut shells, seed husks and cold oatmeal. The look: Grey and cloudy, like the sloppy water that's left over from soaking paintbrushes. In other words, not too appetizing. The taste: Familiar with soy milk, rice milk or almond milk? This isn't all that different in texture or flavour. But it is remarkably creamy, with a pleasant nutty quality that lasts quite long on the tongue - like a milkshake from a health bar. [continues 191 words]
It was recently announced Afghan farmers are expecting a record poppy crop this year. What a perfect opportunity for the West to purchase the entire crop at farmers' prices. I'm sure the many pharmaceutical companies we have in Montreal could think of something useful to make with it. We could then provide Afghan farmers with alternative crops for them to grow next year. Someone in the agriculture department should know what grows well in their particular climate. It is about time we put our money where our mouth is. Kurt Bateman Montreal [end]
Health Minister Tony Clement is taking the right tack with his planned anti-drug information campaign. After years of discussions over whether marijuana should be legalized or decriminalized, many Canadians are now a little vague about the legal status of marijuana. It is illegal, Clement stated firmly this week, and it will remain so under a Conservative government. If the Conservatives have made up their minds against decriminalizing marijuana - an option we continue to favour - the next best solution is to make sure the law is understood, and to inform Canadians of the legal and health consequences of using it. [continues 356 words]
Heiress to Write Book About Chaotic Life Anne-Marie Peladeau, thin and pale, pleaded guilty yesterday to three charges of drug trafficking and is free on bail until January, during which time she plans to begin a book about her chaotic life. Peladeau, the daughter of the late media mogul Pierre Peladeau, was arrested last week at her Garnier St. apartment in the Rosemont district after police received an anonymous phone call saying there was a lot of "coming and going" at the building. [continues 306 words]
In Court To Face 3 Trafficking Counts A haggard-looking Anne-Marie Peladeau appeared in Quebec Court yesterday afternoon to face three counts of drug trafficking. The 42-year-old media heiress was arrested late Thursday at her Garnier St. apartment in the Rosemont district as part of a police investigation into her activities, Montreal police Constable Anie Lemieux said yesterday. The police report alleges that on Thursday and on July 26, Peladeau trafficked or was in the possession of heroin, cocaine and crack. [continues 233 words]
If some of the evidence contained in a recent United Nations scientific study leads to one conclusion, it is that legal ambiguity in Canada over the use of marijuana has resulted in a policy vacuum, while this country's consumption of the drug has risen to four times the world average. According to the UN's Office on Drugs and Crime, which produced the 2007 World Drug Report, 16.8 per cent of Canadians aged 15 to 64 smoked marijuana or used a cannabis-related product last year. The average is 3.8 per cent world-wide. Only four countries - all non-industrialized - had higher rates than Canada. This country has the highest rate of marijuana use among industrialized nations. [continues 382 words]
If some of the evidence contained in a recent United Nations scientific study leads to one conclusion, it is that legal ambiguity in Canada over the use of marijuana has resulted in a policy vacuum, while this country's consumption of the drug has risen to four times the world average. According to the UN's Office on Drugs and Crime, which produced the 2007 World Drug Report, 16.8 per cent of Canadians aged 15 to 64 smoked marijuana or used a cannabis-related product last year. The average is 3.8 per cent world-wide. Only four countries - all non-industrialized - had higher rates than Canada. This country has the highest rate of marijuana use among industrialized nations. [continues 377 words]
It started with someone getting ripped off in a drug deal, and threatened to turn into a war on the streets of Montreal between the Cotroni organization and people loyal to the Dubois gang. It ended after a group of Mafia leaders was summoned to a meeting at the Windsor Hotel where Vincenzo Cotroni, the former "godfather" of the Montreal Mafia, is believed to have ordered an end to hostilities. Moreno Gallo is serving a life sentence because he and an accomplice killed a 26-year-old drug dealer in that summer of 1973 on the orders of Cotroni organization members. Gallo, who was 28 at the time, pleaded guilty to murder and received a mandatory life sentence. [continues 421 words]
Cannabis Policy Ignores Effect of Potent Pot on Schizophrenia Scientific developments have established that as many as one in four cannabis users is genetically at risk for developing schizophrenia or a related psychotic disorder. Given recent statistics from the United Nations citing Canada as the industrial world's leading consumer of cannabis, this information should set alarm bells ringing. Instead, Canada's mainstream media responded as if someone had passed out The Happy Hippie Hymn Book that no one noticed is 10 years out of date. [continues 658 words]
Inside Quebec
