Home
World
Canada
- BC
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Saskatchewan
- Manitoba
- Thunder Bay
- Sudbury
- Windsor
- Toronto
- Ottawa
- Montreal
- NB
- PEI
- NS
- NL
- North
Politics
Health
Arts & Entertainment
- Music
- Film
- Television
- Books
- Media
- Art & Design
- Theatre
Technology & Science
Money
Consumer Life
Diversions
Weather
Your Voice

Ottawa man accused of being a leader of Quebec cocaine ring

Last Updated: Friday, November 21, 2008 | 9:51 AM ET

CBC News

Valentino Pollastrini (dressed in black) is led into court Thursday. (CBC)

An employee at an Italian restaurant in Ottawa is one of 51 people arrested Thursday in what Quebec police allege is a ring that imported cocaine from Mexico via Vancouver for distribution throughout Quebec.

Valentino (Nino) Pollastrini, who works at Ristorante Giovanni's on Preston Street, is alleged to be one of the leaders of the ring, said Crown prosecutor Sylvain Petitclerc, who named Roke Vaillant and Michel Lecompte as two other alleged leaders.

The three were among 21 people arrested in the Ottawa-Gatineau area. Thirty others were arrested in Montreal, Petitclerc said.

He added that Crown lawyers have several books of wiretap transcripts and 15 DVDs of evidence supporting their case.

Most of the Ottawa-area suspects were to be back in court next week on charges that include participation in a criminal organization, trafficking cocaine, and counts related to the possession of firearms.

Corrections and Clarifications

Valentino (Nino) Pollastrini is not the owner of Giovanni's Restaurant, as originally reported. In fact, Pollastrini is an employee at the restaurant. Feb. 24, 2009 | 10:02 a.m. ET

Internal Links

Cocaine smuggling network smashed, Quebec police say

Ottawa Headlines

Student beaten in Sandy Hill home invasion: Three men armed with a handgun and a knife broke into a home near the University of Ottawa Thursday night, then beat and robbed the two occupants.
Ottawa to collect unpaid fines via tax bills: Homeowners in Ottawa will no longer be able to avoid unpaid fines, due to a change in provincial legislation.
Lotto 6-49 jackpot could top $41M: There's a case of lottery fever in Canada in the runup to Saturday night's $41-million Lotto 6-49 jackpot prize, which could end up being worth even more because of a spike in ticket sales.
Montreal shop owner held in deadly shooting: The owner of a clothing boutique in Old Montreal where two men were killed and two others wounded appeared briefly in court Saturday via video link.
Muslims find their place in Gatineau: A growing number of Muslims are making their home in Gatineau, and many say they feel comfortable in this part of Quebec.

Canada Headlines

Woolstencroft wins 5th Paralympic gold: Lauren Woolstencroft of North Vancouver, B.C., won the standing super-combined race at the Paralympics to earn her fifth gold medal of the Games.
Hospital death bed theft leads to 2nd arrest: Police arrest a second man for robbing a woman of $7,000 worth of jewelry as she lay dying in at Toronto East General Hospital.
Dozens safe after days stuck in Man. muck: Manitoba Search and Rescue officials say all 81 people who were bogged down in muck on impassable winter roads have been rescued and are on their way to where they wanted to be when they set out.
Search for P.E.I. man renewed after 17 years: There are renewed efforts to find a Prince Edward Island man who disappeared 17 years ago in Charlottetown.
Montreal shop owner held in deadly shooting: The owner of a clothing boutique in Old Montreal where two men were killed and two others wounded appeared briefly in court Saturday via video link.

People who read this also read …

Top CBCNews.ca Headlines

Headlines

Woolstencroft wins 5th Paralympic gold: Lauren Woolstencroft of North Vancouver, B.C., won the standing super-combined race at the Paralympics to earn her fifth gold medal of the Games.
Hospital death bed theft leads to 2nd arrest: Police arrest a second man for robbing a woman of $7,000 worth of jewelry as she lay dying in at Toronto East General Hospital.
Canadian Paralympic curlers off to final: The Canadian wheelchair curling team will get a chance to defend its Paralympic title after beating Sweden 10-5 in a semifinal Saturday.
Montreal shop owner held in deadly shooting: The owner of a clothing boutique in Old Montreal where two men were killed and two others wounded appeared briefly in court Saturday via video link.
Obama makes final health-care pitch: U.S. President Barack Obama made a final push to rally support before this weekend's vote on health-care legislation, charging that the country cannot afford to miss this historic opportunity.