Montreal police Chief Fady Dagher issued a heartfelt plea to parents of youth who are being targeted by criminal gangs on Thursday. He urged parents to listen to officers if they come knocking with information about their children heading down a dangerous path.
Dagher highlighted the alarming trend of gangs targeting children as young as 12, emphasizing the importance of intervention to prevent them from getting involved in criminal activities.
Speaking at a news conference in Montreal, Dagher emphasized the role parents play in steering their children away from criminal influences. He expressed concern about parents who fail to recognize the warning signs of trouble at home.
Addressing business owners facing extortion threats from gangs, Dagher encouraged them to seek help from law enforcement at the earliest opportunity. He stressed the importance of reporting such incidents promptly to prevent further escalation.
Cmdr. Francis Renaud, who leads the organized crime unit, revealed that Montreal had experienced a surge in reported extortion cases during the summer, with a concentration in the downtown area. Renaud noted that both established and emerging criminal elements were involved in these activities targeting various businesses.
Renaud highlighted the evolving nature of organized crime in Montreal, noting a shift from traditional hierarchical structures to more fluid and volatile cell-based networks. This transformation has led to increased involvement of younger suspects in gang-related crimes.
Recent arrests of teenagers linked to violent offenses underscore the gravity of the situation. Montreal police apprehended several teens associated with a gang in St-Léonard, implicated in crimes such as robbery, arson, and extortion.
Furthermore, recent incidents involving arson attempts and shootings in Montreal have raised concerns about the exploitation of young individuals by criminal elements. Dagher condemned the use of minors to carry out illicit activities, emphasizing the need for protection and intervention.
In response to the tragic fire incident in Old Montreal, which claimed the lives of a mother and daughter, authorities are pursuing leads to identify those responsible. The incident has sparked calls for legislative action to address the growing threat posed by organized crime to youth in Quebec.
Political leaders have expressed outrage over the recruitment of teenagers into criminal activities, emphasizing the need for collective action to safeguard vulnerable youth. The issue of youth involvement in organized crime has prompted soul-searching and calls for stronger community engagement to combat this troubling trend.
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