In one of the most significant blows to organized crime in Canadian history, Quebec police have dismantled the core leadership of the notorious Rizzuto crime family.

Eleven suspects were arrested as part of a major joint investigation launched three years ago: Project ALEAN — a name now synonymous with decades of mafia control in Montreal and across the province.

On June 12th, 2025, at the break of dawn, over 150 police officers from multiple agencies — including the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), Mafioso, the Montreal Police (SPVM), and the Quebec City Police — launched a sweeping and highly coordinated operation.

Raids were carried out simultaneously across Montreal, Laval, Blainville, Repentigny, and Quebec City, targeting what investigators described as the highest echelon of organized crime in the province.

Among the 11 individuals arrested were two of the most powerful and recognizable names in Canada’s mafia landscape:
Leonardo Rizzuto, the son of the late mob boss Vito Rizzuto, and Stefano Sollecito, believed to be one of the current leaders of the Montreal Mafia.

Both men now face first-degree murder charges, marking a stark shift from their previous arrests related to drug trafficking and gangsterism.

The arrests are the result of a long-term, complex investigation that began nearly two years ago. A major breakthrough came when Frédérick Silva, a feared hitman involved in at least 60 gangland murders, agreed to cooperate with police.

Silva’s testimony — supported by electronic surveillance and forensic evidence — provided law enforcement with a detailed view of the Rizzuto family’s internal operations, alliances, and rivalries.

According to investigators, the murder charges stem from multiple targeted killings linked to mafia turf wars and efforts to consolidate power after the death of Vito Rizzuto in 2013.

Since then, Leonardo and Stefano were believed to have taken over the reins, forming a leadership table that controlled much of the drug trafficking, extortion, and contract killings in Montreal.

Police believe the organization was trying to regain control after years of instability and internal betrayals.
But with these arrests, that attempt may have come to a crashing halt.

Authorities also seized encrypted communication devices, luxury vehicles, and other evidence that points to a well-organized and highly secretive operation.

Now, with Rizzuto and Sollecito behind bars, the future of Montreal’s underworld hangs in the balance.

Experts warn that the resulting power vacuum could lead to a fresh wave of violence, with rival groups like the Hells Angels and the West End Gang potentially moving to fill the gap.

So the question is:
Is this truly the end of the Rizzuto era — or just the beginning of a new, bloodier chapter in Canada’s criminal history?