" C" Division - News Releases

Projects Cabernet-Cubain

Dismantling of Two Cocaine Importation Rings
by the RCMP

Montréal, December 7, 2006 – The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) designed a bold scheme to cut to the core of two separate cocaine importation rings. Some 20 alleged criminals were arrested and escorted to the RCMP Headquarters early this morning. They will face numerous charges of conspiracy to import drugs to Canada for the purpose of trafficking.

This major police investigation, carried out by Montréal and Québec city Drug Sections federal officers, is the result of two operations conducted in parallel in the last two years. In fact, these two operations, named "Cabernet" and "Cubain", which shared the same investigative techniques, led to the arrest of 19 individuals from two separate criminal rings. More than 100 officers took part in these operations.

Project Cubain: A first organization down
In the course of Project Cubain, RCMP officers conducted a major investigation that resulted in the dismantling of a criminal ring specializing in the importation of cocaine. The leaders of this organization were Gilbert Kelly, 62, and Sarto Berthiaume, 55. These two men had been involved in the importation of cocaine from Maracaibo, Venezuela, for several years. The criminal ring used a concealing method dubbed "torpedo". With this method, drugs were concealed under the hull of ships and then smuggled into Canada before being retrieved by divers.

Drugs under the hull
The investigation revealed among other things that Gilbert Kelly and Sarto Berthiaume allegedly made two attempts to import drugs. They are alleged to have conspired to import 134 kilograms of cocaine that were seized in October 2004, in the Port of Puerto Bolivar, Colombia. Both men are also believed to be responsible for a second attempt to import 52 kilograms of cocaine that were also seized by the Canada Border Services Agency, in the Port of Belledune, New Brunswick, in November 2004. In both cases, the drugs were concealed under the hull of ships.

Charges of conspiracy to import cocaine have been laid against both men, and also against 10 other individuals involved at different stages including those who were part of the diving and retrieval teams.

A restraint order has been issued for the residence of Gilbert Kelly, worth approximately $300,000. In addition, all property found inside the residence was seized by RCMP officers as it is believed to be proceeds of crime.

Operation Cabernet: A second organization down
In parallel with Project Cubain, RCMP officers undertook a second operation, Project Cabernet, which was another blow to organized crime. In this operation, RCMP officers posing as drug carriers were to transport between 500 and 1,000 kilograms of cocaine to Canada. However, the criminal organization was unable to complete the deal that would have made it possible for RCMP officers to take possession of the drugs directly from the suppliers. But even if the deal fell through, sufficient evidence was gathered to file charges against the organization including for conspiracy to import cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. Charges have been laid against 12 individuals, including the alleged leaders of the organization, all three from the Montréal region. They are Christopher Tune, 48, Daniel Rivard, 47, and Martin Bellehumeur, 35.

In addition to this conspiracy to import cocaine, more than $275,000, 6 kilograms of cocaine, 12 kilograms of cannabis, vehicles and documentary evidence were recovered by police officers at various stages of the investigation since December 29, 2005.

One of the main instigators of this conspiracy, Daniel Rivard, is also charged with possession of property obtained by crime under section 354 of the Criminal Code.

Innovative undercover investigations
" Organized crime knows no borders. These operations, which required the assistance of other federal officers, show that the RCMP takes the necessary actions to intercept drugs before they reach our communities. Projects Cabernet and Cubain are two examples of innovative investigations aimed at disrupting criminal organizations," said Staff Sergeant André Potvin.

The dismantling of these two criminal organizations marks the culmination of an investigation launched nearly two years ago by the Montréal and Québec city Drug Sections, in partnership with New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and British Columbia RCMP, as well as RCMP Liaison Officers abroad. In the course of this international investigation, the RCMP also relied on the assistance of the Canada Border Services Agency, French customs, French National Police Office central pour la répression du trafic illicite des stupéfiants (Central Office for the Interdiction of Illicit Drug Trafficking) and Quebec RCMP Joint Regional Team.

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For information:

Communications Office
Montréal: (514) 939-8308
Québec city: (418) 648-7522