Arrest of 7 suspects said to be linked to the SATG criminal group

03 july 2020

An investigation by the Section des enquêtes criminelles Nord of the SPVM, following a theft committed during the night of May 2 to 3 in Montréal, became a relay race between police officers from Montréal, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Peel Regional, supported by officers from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), to curb the criminal activities of suspected members of a cell linked to the criminal group South American Theft Group (SATG).

The investigation was launched on May 3 after individuals committed a carefully planned theft from a Cartierville currency exchange office and obtained $200,000. In collaboration with the CBSA, the police officers identify suspects and link them to other thefts and break-ins, which have occurred in Montréal. On May 15, while Montréal police officers were on their tracks, the suspects headed for Ontario. Without delay, the SPVM investigators informed their OPP and Peel Regional Police colleagues, who deployed teams of investigators to continue the initiated steps. On May 17, 2020, after several days of reconnaissance, investigators from Peel Regional Police caught the seven suspects breaking and entering in the area of Mississauga, Ontario. Three of the suspects were arrested while they were inside the building and one of them was found by police in the attic of the business.

The searches led to the seizure of several burglary tools, a radio wave jammer, several thousand dollars in Canadian and American currency, false identification documents and one of the bags stolen on May 2 during the break-in at the Cartierville exchange office.

The seven suspects Mora Parada, Alba Rocha, Lopez Salazar, Serrato Luque, Reina Camelo, Gomez Millan and Rojas Rojas are currently charged in Ontario for three break-ins committed in the Mississauga area on May 17, 2020. The suspects have appeared in court and are still detained.

Among the seven suspects, five are also accused of two break-ins committed in Montréal on May 2, 2020, and April 15, 2019, namely Mora Parada, Alba Rocha, Lopez Salazar, Serrato Luque and Reina Camelo.

They appeared today by videoconference at the Montréal Courthouse on 11 charges, including breaking and entering, theft and concealment.