A decades-long saga of organized crime in Quebec took a dramatic turn last week with the arrest of Adham Haouili, 43, in Mexico City. Haouili, the son-in-law of notorious Montreal Mob boss Raynald Desjardins, had been a fugitive since June 2023, wanted in connection with a large-scale cocaine trafficking operation.
The arrest occurred Friday afternoon at Mexico City International Airport as Haouili attempted to meet his wife. Canadian authorities confirmed the apprehension on Monday, revealing that the extradition process is now underway. He remains in Mexican custody while awaiting return to Canada to face charges.
Raynald Desjardins, 72, has long been considered a key figure in Quebec’s underworld, a power player with deep roots in organized crime. For years, he maintained close ties with the Rizzuto family, but a power struggle erupted roughly fifteen years ago, igniting a violent conflict for control of the Montreal Mafia.
That conflict escalated into a deadly plot to eliminate Salvatore Montagna, a rival leader. Desjardins was implicated in orchestrating Montagna’s murder in 2011, a crime that followed a prior attempt on Desjardins’ own life. He ultimately pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in 2016, receiving a 14-year sentence.
Haouili is accused alongside four others in “Project Camelot,” an investigation that uncovered a sophisticated scheme to transport cocaine from Toronto and Montreal to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. The operation allegedly utilized seaplanes for the illicit deliveries.
Authorities seized a significant amount of evidence during the investigation, including 10 kilograms of cocaine, three firearms, and approximately $32,000 in cash. The RCMP’s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit led the investigation, collaborating with the Longueuil police service to dismantle the network.
The net is tightening around those involved in Project Camelot. Benoît David, another Laval resident, was arrested by Interpol in Chile last August, though he has yet to be extradited. William Thomas Webber was apprehended in Mississauga, Ontario, just days later.
Judith Zayas-Bayan, 58, was arrested in the United States at the end of last year and repatriated to Canada in December. She is currently in custody awaiting a bail hearing. The trial of Michaël Duguay-Hallé, 42, is scheduled to begin in September, promising further revelations about the scope of the operation.
These arrests represent a significant blow to the alleged drug trafficking ring and signal a continued effort by law enforcement to dismantle organized crime networks operating within Canada and beyond. The complex web of connections and international pursuit underscores the challenges of combating such criminal enterprises.
