Ottawa man accused of being a leader of Quebec cocaine ring
Last Updated: Friday, November 21, 2008 | 9:51 AM ET
CBC News
Related
Internal Links
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
Share Tools
Latest Ottawa News Headlines
- Injured soldiers rehab at Calabogie ski hill
- The Calabogie Peaks ski resort is playing host to a group of Canadian soldiers working to keep physical while they recover from serious injuries. more »
- Ottawa smoking ban passed at committee
- Members of the community and protective services committee voted in favour of the new, updated Ottawa smoking ban that prohibits lighting up at parks, beaches and on patios. more »
- 2 NDP MPs back final Commons vote to kill gun registry
- Two NDP MPs broke party ranks to vote with the government in the final House of Commons vote on scrapping the long-gun registry. more »
- Nortel collapse linked to hacking attack
- A former systems security adviser to Nortel Networks says he has no doubt that extensive cyber attacks on the technology company contributed to its downfall. more »
Top News Headlines
- Tories move to curb 'bogus' refugees
- The Conservative government is poised to change the refugee system yet again in an attempt to deter what it considers "bogus" claimants, CBC News has learned. more »
- Children of immigrants challenged at school, home
- By 2016, foreign-born youth and Canadian-born youth from immigrant families will make up a quarter of the country's population, according to predictions by the Canadian Council on Social Development. As their numbers grow, more attention is being paid to their successes and failures. more »
- 2 NDP MPs back final Commons vote to kill gun registry
- Two NDP MPs broke party ranks to vote with the government in the final House of Commons vote on scrapping the long-gun registry. more »
- B.C. house party trial hears from tearful teens
- Two teenagers cried as they testified at the trial of a B.C. woman who was charged after a teen died while her son was hosting a party at her house in 2008. more »
Most Viewed/Commented
- Unlicensed Ottawa children's taxi investigated
- Ottawa smoking ban passed at committee
- Ontario police help Ottawa predator probe
- Drummond report on Ontario calls for cutbacks
- Hundreds mourn Carleton suicide victim
- Report on slashing Ontario deficit due Feb. 15
- Ottawa men charged after pellet gun incident
- Ottawa high school student found
- McGuinty backs Wi-Fi in schools
