Following a two-year police investigation, two residents have been charged in connection with the theft of $100,000 in cash from the Bank of Montreal and Canada Post in 2000.

Curtis Martin, 25, faces two counts of theft over $5,000 and two counts of theft of mail.

Destiny Lepine, 23, has been charged with two counts of possession of stolen property and two counts of possession of stolen mail.

Charges are also possible against other individuals.

The RCMP is not releasing many details about the case, including by what means the thefts allegedly occurred.

"We can't release the exact details of how the money was taken," says Sgt. Daryl Key of the Fort Smith RCMP detachment.

However, Key says there was no break-in at either the bank or the post office, nor did the accused work at either location.

The sergeant adds the police are not aware of any personal mail being stolen.

The charges result from two incidents -- one on June 26, 2000 and the other on Nov. 16, 2000.

"There were two separate incidents and money was taken in each of these incidents," says Sgt. Marion Lamothe of the RCMP's major crimes unit in Yellowknife.

The RCMP have also charged Martin and Lepine with possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking, and have seized an estimated three ounces of cannabis marijuana.

Lepine and Martin are to appear in Fort Smith Territorial Court on Jan. 22, 2003, to enter pleas to the charges.

The police have recovered approximately $30,000 worth of property they believe was purchased with the stolen money, including a vehicle and electronic equipment such as a large-screen TV.

Three other people have been arrested as part of the investigation, and other charges are possible.

"We don't know at this point in time," says Lamothe, adding a decision on other charges might take two or three weeks.

"We have a mountain of evidence to review," he notes.

One other person is also being sought for questioning.