Police arrested 11 individuals after setting forth numerous raids in Trois-Rivieres, Becancour and Shawinigan this morning (30/04/2025). 7 residences and 3 vehicles were the target of this particular operation. Police managed to seize cocaine, cash money and a firearm throughout the day. It was brought on by a joint task force which included the SQ (Quebec Provincial Police), local police and the GTI (Tactical Intervention Group), Quebec’s answer to a SWAT team. Authorities decided to crack down after several incidents of violence throughout the territory. Some of these warrants were served on Rue Jutras, Rue Roy, Rue Saint-Paul and Rue Camille.
One of the 11 people arrested today has been involved in a recent arson, as well as being the victim of an attempted murder this past December. His name is Jay Lafond, a 29-year-old man, and he is no stranger to the local police station in Trois-Rivieres. His wrap sheet includes several charges of drug trafficking and possession as well as theft and possession of stolen goods and a firearms charge.
A call to the Trois-Rivieres police service was placed towards 7pm on December 4th, 2024. When authorities arrived on the scene, they found Lafond, shot and wounded behind an apartment block on Rue Audet. He was led to the hospital, where he made it out alive. No suspects were arrested or even charged in relation to this incident. Although a vehicle was found, torched, the same day on Boulevard Industriel.
Lafond was also charged in May of 2020 after an armed robbery which had taken place in March of that same year. The incident had occurred at the Days Inn, a 2-star hotel on Boulevard Saint-Jean. Some search warrants were executed at the time of his arrest for that very incident, a warrant which targeted residences on Rue Julien, and yet again Rue Camille.
These warrants would help authorities rack up the charges in his case as cocaine, hash, firearms, brass knuckles and pepper spray were found. He was charged with robbery, being in possession of drugs with intent to traffic and firearms charges. William Boisvert, who was 19 at the time of the crime, Lafond’s co-accused was charged with similar crimes. A third suspect, 22-years-old, was released with a promise to appear, he was charged with robbery and armed assault.
Local news outlets suggest that the raids which had occurred today and the individuals which were arrested might be related to the HAMC. Meaning this could possibly be an event in relation to the drug war. Let’s not forget, the Trois-Rivieres’ chapter of the HAMC’s clubhouse was seized and sieged this past week in Herouxville. A few months earlier the Satan’s Crew (HA support club) clubhouse was raided. Jay Lafond’s attempted murder last December might’ve possibly been related to the Quebec Drug War, but media outlets failed to confirm the fact. To conclude this article, if your hopes are to link all these events together, you’ll just be left with a bunch of ‘What ifs’… These things take time. But there is no denying that the violence occurring from this strife is at a climax.
