Montreal

Quebec biker gang members with ties to Hells Angels face drug trafficking charges

The Sûreté du Québec says today's arrests are linked to raids carried out earlier this spring.

Arrests linked to cocaine, amphetamines and cash seized earlier this year

A police cruiser crest.
Six members of the Beast Crew motorcycle group were arrested in Sorel-Tracy. (Rémi Tremblay/Radio-Canada)

Six members of the Beast Crew motorcycle group are facing drug trafficking charges after being arrested in Sorel-Tracy, Que.

Those arrested include the suspected leader of the group, 37-year-old Martin Raymond of St-Robert, and the treasurer, 46-year-old Stéphane Laflamme.

All six were set to appear in court on Monday afternoon. 

The Sûreté du Québec said the arrests are linked to raids carried out earlier this spring, when police seized 200 grams of cocaine, amphetamines, three kilograms of marijuana, contraband cigarettes and $30,000 in cash.

SQ Sgt. Daniel Thibodeau says the money generated by the Beast Crew was being funnelled directly to the Hells Angels. 

"It's important in the sense that this seems to be how the Hells Angels are operating these days," he said. 

"They are contracting out to smaller criminal organizations to do their lesser, dirtier work."