Yellowknife (Dec 06/04) - A 17-year-old at the centre of a crack cocaine ring based out of a Hay River hotel room pleaded guilty to drug trafficking in youth court last week.

The British Columbia native, whose identity is shielded by Canadian law, was arrested Sept. 25 after police raided a room at the Ptarmigan Inn. They seized 193 grams of crack cocaine and $45,000 in cash. The drugs had an estimated street value of $46,000.

Another teen arrested in connection with the operation pleaded guilty to trafficking and was sentenced earlier this month in youth court.

Investigators also discovered a calculator, scissors, a cell phone and a digital camera -- accessories they believe were used to package and sell drugs.

During a brief court hearing Monday, the teen admitted to his role in the distribution ring. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 17 in Hay River, when he will face another charge of aggravated assault.

Justice officials told News/North last week they were unable to tie the teens to upper-level traffickers in Edmonton and Vancouver, where they believe some of the drugs may have originated.