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Ottawa Citizen
4 days ago
- Ottawa Citizen
BMW seized from Montreal gangster in Kamloops linked to sex trafficking
The B.C. government wants to keep a 2018 BMW seized from a Montreal gangster linked to a murder plot and sex trafficking. Article content Pierre-André Baptiste was arrested by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit in December in Kamloops, according to a lawsuit filed Monday by the B.C. director of civil forfeiture. Article content Article content The statement of claim alleges that since at least May 2024, Baptiste has used the BMW 'to transport women, including youth, between Alberta and British Columbia to exploit them for sexual services while making a profit.' Article content CFSEU officers arrested Baptiste on Dec. 11, 2024 on a Canada-wide warrant for conspiracy to commit murder. The Montreal Police Service and the Quebec provincial police announced the same day that Baptiste and others had been arrested in connection with three murders committed in Charlemagne and Montreal in 2023 and 2024. Article content Article content La Presse reported at the time that Baptiste is linked to a Laval street gang called 24 — the number on a pendant the 35-year-old can be seen wearing in a rap video on YouTube. Article content The B.C. lawsuit said Baptiste had been living in Edmonton before his December arrest. Article content The director alleged Baptiste used the BMW X5 to commit several crimes including: 'recruiting, transporting, transferring, receiving, holding, concealing or harbouring a person, or exercising control, direction or influence over the movements of a person, for the purpose of exploiting them or facilitating their exploitation,' receiving a financial benefit from the commission of an offence, procuring a person to offer sexual services, possession of the proceeds of crime and money laundering. Article content Article content 'All or some portion of the defendant's interest in the vehicle is proceeds of unlawful activity because it was acquired, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the unlawful activity,' the statement of claim said. Article content Article content It noted he had a criminal record with convictions for possession for the purpose of trafficking, assault, sexual assault, firearms charges, uttering threats and obstruction. Article content No statement of defence has been filed by Baptiste. Article content In June 2023, he was arrested in Victoria and charged with uttering death threats and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. The case was transferred out of province in October 2023. Article content But the B.C. director of civil forfeiture filed another lawsuit in September 2023, requesting an order to keep $14,555 seized from Baptiste by Victoria Police, alleging he 'procured a person to provide sexual services' then got into a disagreement about payment.
Vancouver Sun
4 days ago
- Vancouver Sun
BMW seized from Montreal gangster in Kamloops linked to sex trafficking
The B.C. government wants to keep a 2018 BMW seized from a Montreal gangster linked to a murder plot and sex trafficking. Pierre-André Baptiste was arrested by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit in December in Kamloops, according to a lawsuit filed Monday by the B.C. director of civil forfeiture. The statement of claim alleges that since at least May 2024, Baptiste has used the BMW 'to transport women, including youth, between Alberta and British Columbia to exploit them for sexual services while making a profit.' CFSEU officers arrested Baptiste on Dec. 11, 2024 on a Canada-wide warrant for conspiracy to commit murder. The Montreal Police Service and the Quebec provincial police announced the same day that Baptiste and others had been arrested in connection with three murders committed in Charlemagne and Montreal in 2023 and 2024. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. La Presse reported at the time that Baptiste is linked to a Laval street gang called 24 — the number on a pendant the 35-year-old can be seen wearing in a rap video on YouTube. The B.C. lawsuit said Baptiste had been living in Edmonton before his December arrest. The director alleged Baptiste used the BMW X5 to commit several crimes including: 'recruiting, transporting, transferring, receiving, holding, concealing or harbouring a person, or exercising control, direction or influence over the movements of a person, for the purpose of exploiting them or facilitating their exploitation,' receiving a financial benefit from the commission of an offence, procuring a person to offer sexual services, possession of the proceeds of crime and money laundering. 'All or some portion of the defendant's interest in the vehicle is proceeds of unlawful activity because it was acquired, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the unlawful activity,' the statement of claim said. It noted he had a criminal record with convictions for possession for the purpose of trafficking, assault, sexual assault, firearms charges, uttering threats and obstruction. No statement of defence has been filed by Baptiste. The arrest late last year was not Baptiste's first in B.C. In June 2023, he was arrested in Victoria and charged with uttering death threats and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. The case was transferred out of province in October 2023. But the B.C. director of civil forfeiture filed another lawsuit in September 2023, requesting an order to keep $14,555 seized from Baptiste by Victoria Police, alleging he 'procured a person to provide sexual services' then got into a disagreement about payment. Police searched his vehicle and found the cash 'bundled or packaged in a manner not consistent with standard banking practices' as well as a baton, the 2023 statement of claim said. In his statement of defence, Baptiste said the money was earned legitimately and that he worked part-time in Montreal as both a hairdresser and truck driver. And he said he was also a musical artist that had been signed by Seiha Studios 'since in or around 2021.' All but $3,700 of the cash was forfeited to the B.C. government by consent in 2024. In September 2020, Surrey RCMP arrested Baptiste at the request the Quebec-based Integrated Anti-Pimping Squad which alleged he was sexually exploiting a 25-year-old woman. At the time, police said they believed he may have other victims in cities across Canada. kbolan@ Blueksy: @
