Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Pond Inlet (Dec 20/99) - A 25-year-old Pond Inlet man was charged with trafficking after $60,000 worth of marijuana and hashish was found at his home.

Acting on a number of anonymous tips, Pond Inlet RCMP, in conjunction with the "V" division's drug section in Iqaluit, obtained a search warrant and entered the home of Gideonie Kiyoapik on Dec. 2.

Police seized 512 grams of marijuana and 85 grams of hashish, much of which had already been divided into smaller packages.

Cpl. Don Perrett of the Pond Inlet RCMP said the arrest had, at the very least, slowed down drug trafficking.

He added that based on the smaller number of phone calls he's been getting from the public, the quantity of narcotics in the community had also decreased with Kiyoapik's arrest.

"It's still out there, but we haven't been receiving as much information since this arrest which leaves us to believe that, even if it's a small dent, it has put somewhat of a dent into the drug trafficking in this community."

Perrett further stated that Kiyoapik's arrest on Dec. 2 was actually the third set of drug-related charges to be laid against the man in two months.

Beginning on Sept. 3, with a seizure of hash, paraphernalia and a large sum of money -- for which he was charged with trafficking and ordered to appear for trial in February -- Kiyoapik was again charged on Nov. 29, three days prior to the latest set of charges.

Following his latest brush with the law, Kiyoapik made a brief appearance in the Nunavut Court of Justice and last Thursday morning in Iqaluit, he asked that his case be put over until Jan. 10.

He will remain in custody until that date.