Pubdate: Fri, 10 Oct 2008
Source: Nunatsiaq News (CN NU)
Copyright: 2008 Nortext Publishing Corporation
Contact:  http://www.nunatsiaq.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/694
Author: Jane George
Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our 
editors may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who 
have not been convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise 
public figures or officials.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Marijuana - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

RCMP BUSY AS FLIGHTS TEMPT DOPE DEALERS

"It Doesn't Seem to Be Slowing the Drug Trade Down Here."

Drugs continue to arrive regularly in Sanikiluaq via scheduled 
Kivalliq Air fights from Winnipeg, say police at the local Sanikiluaq 
RCMP detachment.

When Kivalliq Air launched its air service April 1 between Sanikiluaq 
and Winnipeg, security checks on passenger luggage came to a halt and 
the quantity of drugs and alcohol flooding into Sanikiluaq began to increase.

"As many seizures as we're getting, it doesn't seem to be slowing the 
drug trade down here," said Const. Paul Robinson.

Police seized 19 plastic-wrapped packets of cocaine, a total of 10 
grams, with a street value of $5,000 which were hidden in carry-on 
luggage of a passenger returning from Winnipeg Aug. 17. [redacted] 
faces charges of possession and possession for purposes of 
trafficking in connection with this incident.

Police had previously seized 509 grams of marijuana, wrapped up in 
plastic, along with 1.4 grams of crack cocaine packaged in aluminum 
foil in the luggage of a passenger returning from Winnipeg July 17.

[redacted] faces charges of possession and possession for purposes of 
trafficking in connection with this incident.

Police also found three grams of cocaine, enough for 36 lines, 
concealed in the luggage of a passenger returning from Winnipeg on Sept. 15.

When police responded to an impaired driving complaint a week later, 
on Sept. 22, they found a passenger in the vehicle with five grams of 
marijuana.

[redacted] faces charges of possession in connection with these two incidents.

Robinson said police also found a backpack abandoned on the ground 
Sept. 22 with a "large amount of marijuana," about 400 grams, with a 
street value of about $22,000.

Robinson said it's not certain if the pot-stuffed backpack is 
connected to the drugs.

When the Nunavut court sat in Sanikiluaq last week, proceedings on 
all drug-related offences were postponed until Jan. 5, 2009. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake