Hells Angels tied to building industry

MONTREAL, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Police in Canada said Tuesday they had arrested 10 people suspected in an alleged attempt by the Hells Angels to take over the construction industry in Quebec.

A total of 14 arrest warrants had been issued in the investigation code-named "Diligence" that was executed in the Montreal metropolitan area.

Provincial police say the more than two-year operation targeted members of the Hells Angels biker gang alleged to have been using threats and extortion in an attempt to gain control of the masonry industry in Quebec, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported. Police said the alleged leader of the organization, Normand Marvin "Casper" Ouimet of the Trois-Rivieres chapter of the Hells Angels, remained at large.

The investigation was triggered by a complaint from a businessman in the Montreal region, ancillary to another police operation called "SharQc" that resulted in the arrest of 128 suspects linked to criminal biker gangs in April, police said.

The investigation was not tied to a new special unit created to uncover corruption involving the construction sector and public officials, police said.

The defendants allegedly would try to use threats and extortion to gain control of masonry companies, then file fraudulent bills for consulting services and put gang members on the company payroll, the CBC reported.

Police allege the ring also used the help of an accounting firm and real estate agent to launder money through a handful of real estate projects. The group used offshore tax havens to hide its money, police say.