Cocaine trafficking | Raynald Desjardins’ son-in-law arrested in Mexico
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Wanted for cocaine trafficking, Adham Haouili, spouse of Vanessa Desjardins, daughter of boss Raynald Desjardins, was arrested late Friday afternoon in Mexico, after two and a half years on the run, we learned The Press.
According to our information, Haouili, 43, was arrested inside Mexico City International Airport when he was going to welcome his wife.
The police suspected that he was hiding in Mexico since he escaped a raid carried out by the Joint Organized Crime Investigation Unit (CFSEU) of the former Division C (Quebec) of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), in June 2023.
Haouili will likely remain detained in Mexico pending extradition.
He is charged in Quebec with conspiracy to possess cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and for trafficking, and a second count of substance trafficking. The alleged acts were allegedly committed between 1is February and September 19, 2022.
Vanessa Desjardins’ name appears as a co-conspirator in the indictment, but she was not charged and her lawyer, Me Anthony El-Haddad, previously told The Press that his client denies having any involvement in the alleged crimes and that she will not be charged.
Air deliveries
Haouili was wanted as part of a CFSEU investigation called Camelot, which resulted in the arrest or issuance of arrest warrants against half a dozen individuals in June 2023.
PHOTO CONTAINED IN A JUDICIAL DOCUMENT
Adham Haouili captured on camera during the Camelot investigation
“The evidence shows that the cocaine was allegedly transported on board a seaplane from the Toronto and Montreal areas to Saint John, Newfoundland. The aircraft was seized, as well as 10 kg of cocaine, three firearms and an amount of approximately $32,000,” the RCMP wrote in a press release, adding that the investigation was launched by the Longueuil Agglomeration Police Service (SPAL) and subsequently carried out in collaboration with the latter.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE
Part of the loot seized by CFSEU investigators during the Camelot investigation
According to court documents obtained by The Pressinvestigators carried out a surreptitious entry into the device based in Saint-Mathias-sur-Richelieu, in Montérégie, in July 2022, and extracted the history of geolocation data.
They noted in particular that the pilot of the Cessna would have shuttled a few times between Quebec and Barrie, in Ontario, before going to Newfoundland, where he would have traveled three times in three weeks.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE
The Cessna seaplane allegedly used to transport cocaine from Ontario to the Maritime provinces
During the investigation, CFSEU members also observed the comings and goings of members of the network, by road, between Ontario and Quebec, and installed cameras and microphones, particularly in the residences and vehicles of the suspects.
Haouili has some criminal history, including unauthorized possession of a firearm, assault with a weapon, assault on a peace officer, theft, theft of credit cards, fraud and failure to comply with conditions.
Besides Haouili, the other accused in this case are Michael Duguay-Hallé, Benoit David, William Thomas Webber and Judith Zayas-Bazan. The latter has not yet been arrested. The proceedings concerning the three other accused are still ongoing.
To contact Daniel Renaud, call 514 285-7000, ext. 4918, write to drenaud@lapresse.ca or write to the postal address of The Press.
