UFC veteran arrested with 102 kilograms of cocaine, other drugs and cash in ‘major anti-gang’ raid

UFC veteran Alex Garcia was among three suspects arrested in Montreal on Monday along with 102 kilograms of cocaine and other drugs, cash, vehicles and weapons. In what local Canadian officials called a “massive” raid by the city’s anti-gang unit. Montreal police announced the arrests in a press release on Wednesday.

In addition to a significant quantity of cocaine valued at more than C$2.3 million (US$1.7 million), approximately 5 kilograms of heroin, 20 liters of GHB, C$306,000 in cash (US$223,000), as well as three firearms and two vehicles were seized by police during the raid.

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Montreal officials said:

“This criminal investigation, initiated in July 2025, revealed that the Toronto area was used as a source of supply and the drugs were subsequently resold at a higher price in Greater Montreal.”

Garcia, 38, competed 10 times in the UFC heavyweight division from 2013-18, compiling a 5-5 promotional record before being released following back-to-back decision wins over Ryan LaFlare and Court McGee. Garcia later competed twice more with Russia’s regional promotion ACA, losing by knockout to Ibragim Chuzhigaev in 2019 and Abdul-Rahman Dzhanaev in early 2020.

Along with Garcia, 49-year-old Michele Laddaga and 45-year-old Victor Julio Sanchez Medrano were also arrested during the raid. An arrest warrant is still pending for the other two suspects.

Based on Canadian release CTV NewsGarcia and Medrano “are charged with drug trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime,” while Laddaga “faces drug trafficking and possession charges.”