Pubdate: Fri, 09 Nov 2001
Source: Nunatsiaq News (CN NT)
Copyright: 2001 Nortext Publishing Corporation
Contact:  http://www.nunatsiaq.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/694
Author: Miriam Hill

NUNAVUT RCMP BUSY WITH IQALUIT DRUG BUSTS

Recent arrests show drugs and money moving in Baffin.

Suspected Baffin pot peddlers working out of Iqaluit have been feeling the 
long arm of the law recently.

In five separate incidents since Oct. 24, RCMP officers have arrested five 
people in possession of large amounts of either drugs or money.

The RCMP only released details of the string of the arrests to the media on 
Nov. 6.

"We've just been so busy we didn't have time to do the press releases as 
each thing was unfolding," said Cpl. Ken Goodine of the Nunavut drug section.

There are two full-time drug officers in Iqaluit, and other help if needed.

Most illegal drugs arriving in the Baffin region come through Iqaluit. 
Officials guess about 85-90 per cent of Nunavut's pot consumption takes 
place here, even though the city has only about 20 per cent of the 
territory's population.

Goodine said these recent drug arrests aren't out of the ordinary in terms 
of the dollars and amount of drugs involved.

"I don't think it's unusual. I think it's just an indication of the amount 
of drugs and money that are moving around," he said.

Arrests Made

After a four-month investigation, RCMP officers arrested an Iqaluit 
resident Oct. 24 in relation to a previous seizure of about one pound of 
marijuana in Cape Dorset.

Police charged 46-year-old Michel Caron with trafficking in a controlled 
substance. The street value of the drug in Cape Dorset is estimated at 
about $30,000.

Caron will appear in court Jan. 7. The investigation is continuing and more 
charges are expected.

On Oct. 31, officers arrested 19-year-old Kevin Harper outside the Snack 
restaurant, where they had received information that a man was selling drugs.

He is also scheduled to appear in court Jan. 7.

One of the main reasons the territory's capital is such a hotbed of drug 
activity is its close proximity to major centres like Montreal and Ottawa.

To bring drugs into Baffin, or money out, it's often necessary to go 
through Iqaluit's airport.

After receiving a tip, members of the RCMP's Nunavut drug section arrested 
Davidee Newkingak of Qikiqtarjuaq near the Iqaluit airport on Oct. 31.

Newkingak was carrying $11,250 in cash, which police believe may have come 
from the sale of illegal drugs.

Drugs Bring Big Bucks

Drugs bring big money into the North. In Ontario, a pound of marijuana, 
divided into smaller quantities for re-sale, would sell for between $1,500 
and $5,000.

In Iqaluit, officials estimate that a pound can be sold for up to $25,000.

Officers also arrested two teenagers in unrelated incidents at the Iqaluit 
airport Nov. 2, and seized a quantity of marijuana with a street value of 
about $61,500.

RCMP arrested a 16-year-old Iqaluit resident after the youth got off a 
flight from Ottawa with more than one kilogram of marijuana in his 
possession. The pot had a street value of about $54,000.

Because of the youth's age, a name cannot be released, but he will appear 
in court Jan. 7 on charges of possession of a controlled substance for the 
purpose of trafficking.

RCMP also arrested a 19-year-old Kimmirut man at the airport before he 
boarded a flight to his home community.

Killiktee Padluq was carrying more than 100 grams of marijuana. That amount 
of pot would have a street value of more than $7,500. Padluq will appear in 
court Jan. 25.

Goodine encouraged people to continue calling the RCMP with tips and 
information about people who deal drugs.

"That's how a lot of what we're able to have success with this is people 
willing to give us information and be of assistance that way," he said.
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