A career trafficker would whiten money for organized crime with his Farnham restaurant

A repeat offender of the drug trafficking in Estrie was denied an alcohol license for his restaurant. Nevertheless, because he would like to use it to whiten money for the benefit of organized crime, fears a judge.

• Read also: A Boucherville hotel pinched for welcoming a big party from Hells Angels

• Read also: 38 kg of coke. Therefore, 18 kg of Crystal Meth seized: a Terrebonne trafficker sold his stock in teleworking

“The court must assume its role as a childcare dog of the public interest in order to ensure that this area does not benefit and is not infiltrated or controlled by people gravitating in the criminal environment,” Guillaume Brien, administrative judge at the Régie des alcohol, races and games, last month.

Martin Lagacé has operated the Dextartare restaurant in Farnham since the career trafficker would whiten money start of the year.

He wanted to optimize his menu by putting his hand on an alcohol license with the management. Furthermore, The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) has however opposed it, citing, among other things, its judicial history.

<!–[if IE 9]><![endif]–>

Facade of the Dextartare restaurant, operated by Martin Lagacé Taken from Martin Lagacé’s Facebook

Between 1998 and 2018, he was sentenced to a total of more than 13 years in penitentiary for drug crimes career trafficker would whiten money (see box). For example, It was suspected to a certain point of controlling drug trafficking in Abitibi-Témiscamingue.

Such a roadmap demonstrates “in a preponderant way that its involvement in crime is not a simple youthful error. a momentary error of course,” said Judge Brien.

Whitening. debts

According to what a “reliable” source has entrusted to SQ, Lagacé is now linked to the sale of cocaine and methamphetamine in the vicinity of Mont-Tremblant and Mont-Laurier, we can read in the decision.

It is also noted that the 56 -year -old man “would be in possession of a handgun. and he would have access to weapons in the Oka sector”.

Career trafficker would whiten money

Martin Lagacé’s narcotics condemnations

• 1998: five years. six months of detention (import of cocaine);
• 2006: two years of detention (production, possession of substances with a view to making it the traffic, illegal storage of a career trafficker would whiten money firearm);
• 2014: 26 months of detention (possession of substances with a view to making it traffic);
• 2018: 41 months of detention (possession, substances traffic).

“Martin Lagacé is often dealing with organized crime, with his spouse, and often accompanied by a child,” notes the court.

Dextartare would have been born to “whiten money”, especially on behalf of bikers outside the law. It would be a “designated place for transactions” of drugs, alleys the SQ.

Its financial statements have also raised certain questions to the police and the court.

Lagacé first said he had no funding for opening his restaurant. before changing his mind to say that he had accumulated more than $ 50,000 in debts. He did not present any banking or tax document in court.

Not reintegrated

During his testimony. he denied getting rich thanks to crime, advancing that the gross monthly turnover of his restaurant varies career trafficker would whiten money between $ 11,000 and $ 12,000.

He would never have asked for an alcohol license on his behalf if he had something to blame himself for. Additionally, he told the judge.

<!–[if IE 9]><![endif]–>

Counter inside the Dextartare restaurant, operated by Martin Lagacé Taken from the Facebook of the Dextartare Resto

In his eyes, “Farnham is a small village and that if he was doing something illegal, he would quickly be stopped”.

“M. Lagacé has not been able career trafficker would whiten money to establish the income he would have won since his release from prison on March 21. 2021, “said Brien judge, however.

He adds that Martin Lagacé failed to prove to the authorities that he had reintegrated socially.

“Obtaining an alcohol permit is a privilege. not a right,” says Judge Brien, recalling that “drug trafficking is a social scourge, which leads to a certain increase in violence”.