A judge ordered the foreclosure on six buildings owned by the Lopez family, whose combined value exceeds $7 million. Pres.
The warrants are part of a major investigation currently being carried out by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Division C (Quebec) against the family northeast of Montreal.
As part of this investigation, known as Chrome, 400 police officers, including investigators from the RCMP’s Joint Organized Crime Investigation Unit (CFSEU), conducted approximately twenty searches on March 26.
More than a dozen people, including brothers Franco and Pasquale Lopez, were arrested and released.
No one has been charged yet and federal police are continuing to investigate.
Family Trusts
Five of the six blocked buildings are residential or commercial buildings located on Fleury Est, Drolet, Lacourtre and 9 streets.e Avenue, as well as a country house located in Labelle, Laurentians.
Photo by Patrick Sanfagon, La Presse Archives
The SPVM dog handler and his animal assisted RCMP investigators during a search of the premises of the Frajo Construction Company on the 9th.e Avenue.
One of the commercial buildings, at 9e The avenue is owned by construction company Les Entreprises Frajo inc.
Along with the orders, a judge prohibits Little Italy 2018 Inc., the Melkoff Family Foundation, the Magfell Family Foundation (both run by family members) and certain family members from “disposing of the property. [visé par l’ordonnance]To take action on the rights they possess, to exercise any security or relief, whether civil or criminal, in respect of immovable property”, we may read among them.
Since the orders were filed, Canada’s Minister of Public Works and Government Services has become the administrator of frozen assets through the Foreclosed Assets Management Directorate.
Proven clan
The federal police investigation focuses on smuggling of illegal goods, illegal gambling and money laundering.
Police suspect the Lopez family imported cocaine from the Dominican Republic.
According to police, several buildings and businesses in Montreal have a total value of several million dollars.
Photo by Patrick Sanfagon, La Presse Archives
Another bar visited by RCMP officers on March 26 was Syros.
They believe their drinking establishments will use the proceeds of crime, through their businesses and renting out their buildings, to facilitate drug trafficking.
Franco and Pasquale Lopez had a third brother, Giuseppe, who was shot dead in the Dominican Republic last year. According to our information, Giuseppe was also the target of an RCMP investigation.
Giuseppe, Franco and Pasquale were arrested for cocaine trafficking in November 2015, with the Maggot-Mastiff investigation leading to the mafia-biker-gang alliance in Montreal organized crime at the time. However, the brothers benefited from the suspension of the legal process in October 2019.
The Lopezes, who lived northeast of Montreal for years, were very discreet until police investigations took an interest in them.
Buildings, businesses and vehicles owned by family members or their loved ones have been targeted by arsonists in recent years.
Police believe the incidents are related to a dispute with neighbors.
Serafino Oliverio, the uncle of the Lopez brothers and head of the family, was the target of an attempted shooting outside his home in November 2021.
The latter will not be targeted by the RCMP investigation.
To contact Daniel Renaud, text 514 285-7000, 4918 Write to [email protected] or mail Pres.
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