Yellowknife (Mar 31/04) - The drunk tank at RCMP headquarters was brimming with customers on Caribou Carnival weekend as police arrested 119 people for public intoxication during the three-day festival.

"It was much busier than a typical weekend," said RCMP Insp. Paul Richards.

All of those arrested were held in RCMP holding cells and released once sober, said Richards. Police didn't press any charges.

The Caribou Carnival weekend is typically one of the busiest of the year for police thanks to an influx of out-of- towners and the celebratory spirit of the carnival.

In 2000, police arrested 155 people for public intoxication. The numbers were lower last year in part because of the scaled-down nature of the carnival.

In anticipation of the event, police called on other members of the "G" Detachment -- including those in the drug and investigation units -- to help the 30 or so regular members patrol the streets. Members of the newly operational Citizens on Patrol Program and RCMP auxiliary constables were also called into service.