Several police officers sporting bullet proof vests are investigating a snow-removal and transit company's warehouse and yard located on Labrosse and Tecumseh streets in Pointe Claire this hour, following an arrest by the RCMP of three men, one from a Dollard des Ormeaux home, earlier today.

"The three suspects arrested by the RCMP are allegedly responsible for importing at least 35 tonnes of cocaine into Canada between 1996 and 2004, and for transporting an estimated 25 tonnes of cocaine from Texas to New York in the years 2002 and 2003 only," according to the RCMP press release.

When The Chronicle arrived in front of the large Dollard house on the corner of Northview and Northview Place where one of the arrests was made, several vans and cars were parked nearby. Men and women in civilian garb as well as at least one man sporting a black T-shirt marked SQ could be seen going back and forth from the house.

One of the house's garage doors kept opening and closing as two people inside contemplated stepping out, but ultimately did not.

RCMP corporal Eiline Lavergne said several of the RCMP's partners, as well as RCMP agents themselves, conduct their search warrants in civilian garb. "It could have been us," she said, "it could have been Revenue Canada."

One woman who lives nearby on the same street said this was the fourth time an arrest was made on drug charges in the last decade and a half at the same house.

"The man had his balcony blown up two winters ago," the woman told The Chronicle on condition of anonymity. "He told everyone that the balcony collapsed because too much snow piled up on it, but I don't believe him."

The arrested man in question, Firmino Tavares, 51, is the owner of a transportation company on Tecumseh, according to the woman.

The Chronicle could not confirm whether Tavares was the owner of Syljack Tuesday afternoon, but one of the spots in that company's parking lot was marked with the initials F.T.

Syljack has been guarded by large guard dogs at night in the past. Bullet proof vest-sporting police officers could be seen going in and out of the warehouse early afternoon today, and a man wearing a grey suit and red tie could be glimpsed with them inside.

Two large trucks parked in Syljack's yard bore Arizonian license plates and the marking North American Freight Systems, along with a Tucson, Arizona address. An online search revealed the company was bought by another trucking business, DeBoer Inc., in 1993.

"We don't run any trucks in Canada," a spokesperson from DeBoer Inc. told The Chronicle. "I don't know what the hell we bought in 1993," he continued when asked if North American Freight Systems still belonged to them.

The other two men arrested were Miguel Torres, 36, from Blainville, and Giovanni Somma, 40, from Montreal.

Charges include conspiracy to import cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, conspiracy for possession of property obtained by crime, cocaine importation, cocaine trafficking and criminal organization offence.

A neighbour of Tavares said the man and his family have been living on Northview Street at least since 2000. The neighbour spoke on condition of anonymity as well.

Lavergne said the RCMP issued search warrants for three locations besides Syljack, but could not reveal them.