Yesterday, our officers from the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) arrested four individuals linked to an interprovincial network trafficking drugs between Quebec and Nova Scotia. The individuals arrested are Steven Sarti, age 33, of Brossard; Stephen Sewell, age 27, of Longueuil; Dalibor Saric, age 29, of Sherbrooke; and Ugo Emmanuel Salvail-Gonzalez, age 30 (already incarcerated).
Conspiracy to recover a $250,000 debt
The investigation found that, between November 8 and 13, 2018, the four individuals conspired to recover a drug debt of $250,000. They allegedly agreed to shoot guns at the residence of a third party to put pressure on individuals and accelerate the repayment of the debt. They were stopped just before committing the act. Sarti was then arrested and charged because of his involvement in the criminal activities being investigated under Operation Hackberry.
Sewell and Gonzalez were released after a vehicle search did not find any firearms. However, subsequent searches found two loaded firearms, thereby demonstrating that these individuals had the means to carry out their plan. It was subsequently established that Saric was tied to the conspiracy.
Each of the four men has been charged with conspiracy to extort money by threats, accusations, menaces or violence.
Sarti and Gonzalez also face multiple charges of possession of prohibited firearms and possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking.
Investigation C-Hackberry
Investigation C-Hackberry was created subsequent to the Operation Hackberry , a joint project by the RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime (FSOC) Unit in Nova Scotia and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) in Montreal focusing on organized trafficking of fentanyl and cocaine between Quebec and Nova Scotia.
Operation Hackberry disrupted a drug trafficking ring targeting Nova Scotia, whose operations were headed by an individual incarcerated in Donnaconna Institution in Quebec.
Public appeal
Do you have information about the illegal activities of individuals or groups of individuals? Contact the RCMP at 514-939-8300 / 1-800-771-5401 or your local police department.