Police bust Akwesasne pot-smuggling ring

Officers from Quebec, Ontario and New York arrested members of a cross-border drug-smuggling ring centred on the Akwesasne Mohawk reserve.

An official said police arrested on Thursday 12 people belonging to four different criminal organizations following ten searches in Montreal, Cornwall, Akwesasne and New York.

The multi-agency operation seized about 30 kilos of marijuana, a large quantity of magic mushrooms, and several weapons, including handguns and an assault rifle.

Police also seized $60,000 in cash and vehicles including a Mercedes-Benz and some Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

The total value of the assets seized is estimated to be about $500,000.

Police said the arrests followed a two-year investigation of the drugs ring. The operation apparently bought marijuana in Quebec and then moved it into New York state through Cornwall and Akwesasne.

The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit that investigated the smuggling ring included the RCMP, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Cornwall Community Police, the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service, the Canadian Border Services Agency and New York police.