Raid: Operation Tarantula nabs drugs, $13 million in tobacco

 
Sixty people have been arrested in Quebec, Ontario, Kahnawake and on Six Nations at Brantford with police targeting a money laundering ring, reports CTV Montreal.

Operation Tarantula (Mygale) resulted in 70 raids March 30 targeting biker gangs who are said to have worked with criminals on reserve to buy tobacco in the United States, which was smuggled it into Canada and sold in Kahnawake and Six Nations.

This was an investigation over many months. Quebec police are said to have seized $13.5 million worth of tobacco in the raids, with the criminals smuggling more than 2 million kgs of tobacco between August 2014 and this month.

The organized crime ring spanned North America, South America, and Europe.

The operation culminated in 70 raids Wednesday in Ste. Therese, St. Marthe sur le lac, in Kahnawake, in the Six Nations reserve in Ontario, and in other areas near Montreal.

Police also seized cash, 836 kg of cocaine, 21 kg of methamphetamine, and 35 lb of marijuana.