Maria Canton
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 05/99) - Two Yellowknife residents were arrested yesterday and charged with three counts of trafficking cocaine.

Arrested in Yellowknife, Hein Quang Bui, a.k.a. Jimmy Bui and Phung Long Lam, a.k.a Lina Lam, a commonlaw Yellowknife couple, have been flown to Calgary, via RCMP aircraft, and are being remanded in custody until a show cause hearing later this week.

The two are facing charges of trafficking in a controlled substance, possession for the purpose to traffic in a controlled substance and conspiracy to traffic in a controlled substance.

"The investigation remains on-going, but we don't expect anymore arrests here in Yellowknife," said RCMP Staff Sgt. Dave Grundy.

Also facing the same charges are three Calgary residents, including Phung Long Lam's mother.

Yesterday's arrests are a result of an on-going, joint investigation with the Calgary drug section that began in November of 1998.

On Dec. 26, 1998, Yellowknife RCMP seized 454 grams (about 16 ounces) of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $100,000, from Bui and Lam.

That seizure was a result of a two-week investigation conducted by the NWT drug section of the RCMP and the Yellowknife RCMP major crimes section.

A recent follow-up search of their residence did not turn up any drugs, but items were taken in support of the charges.

Bui and Lam have lived in Yellowknife for about the past five years.