Mohawk pot operation busted

Police are calling it the biggest drug raid ever staged in the South Shore Mohawk community of Kahnawake, the base of an alleged criminal organization that exported drugs to the U.S.

Project Cancun started over a year ago:  Mohawk peacekeepers, SQ, RCMP, Ontario Provincial Police and U.S. D.E.A officials took part in the arrests made in Kahnawake, Akwesasne, Kanesatake, the Montreal area and the U.S.

Peacekeepers and outside police forces are hailing an improved spirit of cooperation that netted them almost 30 arrests with more expected, 15 raids, two million dollars in cash, luxury cars, MK-47s and M-16s, and 250 pounds of pot.

Chief Dwayne Zacharie of the Kahnawake Mohawk Peacekeepers says drugs are a growing problem on native reserves.

"The reason we got together and the reason why we had this partnership is because we want to combat drugs and the community doesn't support drugs and we felt this was the best way to combat that."

Charges include gangsterism, drug trafficking and drug production. Police say the pot was grown in Chateauguay and Mascouche, funnelled through Akwesasne to the U.S., the operation based in  South Shore Kahnawake.

Gorden McGregor of the First Nations Police Chiefs Association of Quebec says their communities are often seen as isolated and easy funnels for crime.

"That allowed for the criminal organizations to attach themselves to our community members who want to make the quick buck."

"(This operation) goes a long way to state that there is a problem that exists and that there is a group out there that's going to deal with this issue."