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friendly page] High-Level Drug Traffickers Arrested in Joint US/Canada Case June 18 --(Washington, DC) – Yesterday, the RCMP arrested four high-level Canadian drug traffickers in Montréal, concluding a major investigation named Project Caverne that was led by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The four suspects arrested by the RCMP are allegedly responsible for importing at least 35 tons of cocaine into The four persons arrested are: Miguel Torres, 36, of Blainville; Firmino Tavares, 51, of Dollard-des-Ormeaux; Giovanni Somma, 40, of Montréal; and Gerardo Hurtado, 45, currently imprisoned at the Ste-Anne-des-Plaines penal institution near Montréal. The latter was arrested by the RCMP in September 2004 in connection with another drug investigation. The information obtained as part of Project Caverne, launched in 2007, corroborate certain evidence from past investigations and establish the commission of criminal offences that allegedly took place in The evidence gathered in Project Caverne serves to establish, among other things, that Miguel Torres and Firmino Tavares allegedly imported into The drug originating from Yesterday, the CFSEU executed four search warrants in order to gather additional evidence, seize offence-related property and arrest the suspects. The findings of these searches could be used to further the investigation. The charges laid as part of Project Caverne will include conspiracy to import cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, conspiracy for possession of property obtained by crime, cocaine importation, cocaine trafficking and criminal organization offence. #### |