
Police arrest Leonardo Rizzuto in major operation targeting Montreal Mafia
MONTREAL — Nearly a dozen people alleged to be important members of Montreal’s Mafia and other gangs were arrested on Thursday in what police called a major blow to organized crime.
Those arrested include Leonardo Rizzuto, 56, son of the late crime boss Vito Rizzuto and the presumed head of one of Canada’s most notorious crime families. He and the others have all been charged with first-degree murder.
About 150 officers were deployed early Thursday morning in several cities across Quebec as part of a joint investigation between Montreal and provincial police called Project Alliance. They arrested 11 men between 27 and 57 years old, who they say are associated with the Mafia, the Hells Angels and street gangs. The suspects allegedly participated in several murders and attempted murders between 2011 and 2021.
“This is one of the most significant police operations in recent decades,” said Marc Charbonneau, head of the Montreal police specialized services department, during a news conference following the arrests.