UFC veteran arrested with 102 kilograms of cocaine, other drugs and cash in 'major anti-gang' raid

UFC veteran Alex Garcia was among three suspects arrested with more than $2 million in drugs and cash in what local Canadian authorities called a "major" raid by the city's anti-gang unit.

SHANGHAI, CHINA - NOVEMBER 24:  Alex Garcia of Dominican Republic poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in on November 24, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
UFC veteran Alex Garcia and two others were arrested this week in Canada.
Brandon Magnus via Getty Images

UFC veteran Alex Garcia was among three suspects arrested this past Monday in Montreal alongside 102 kilograms of cocaine and other drugs, cash, vehicles and guns in what local Canadian authorities called a "major" raid by the city's anti-gang unit. Montreal police announced the arrests in a news release Wednesday.

In addition to the substantial amount cocaine, which is valued at more than $2.3 million CAD (~$1.7 million USD), approximately 5 kilograms of heroin, 20 liters of GHB, $306,000 CAD in cash (~$223,000 USD), three firearms and two vehicles were seized by police in the bust.

Said Montreal authorities:

“Launched in July 2025, this criminal investigation revealed that the Toronto area was being used as a supply source and that the drugs were then being resold at a higher price in Greater Montreal."

Garcia, 38, competed 10 times in the UFC welterweight division from 2013-18, compiling a 5-5 promotional record before being released following back-to-back decision losses to Ryan LaFlare and Court McGee. Garcia then competed twice more with Russian regional promotion ACA, losing via knockouts at the hands of Ibragim Chuzhigaev in 2019 and Abdul-Rahman Dzhanaev in early 2020.

Michele Laddaga, 49, and Victor Julio Sanchez Medrano, 45, were also arrested alongside Garcia in the raid. Arrest warrants remains outstanding for two additional suspects.

According to Canadian news outlet CTV News, Garcia and Medrano have both been "charged with drug trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime," while Laddaga "faces charges of drug trafficking and possession."

Category: General Sports