Jillian Dickens
Northern News Services

Pond Inlet (Jan 23/06) - More than $2,500 worth of alcohol, soft drinks and marijuana was seized by police at the hamlet airport Jan. 16.

Police arrested a man when he returned from a short visit down south.

Const. David Lawson, left, and Const. Denis Lambe of Pond Inlet RCMP confiscated these contraband items that have a street value of more than $2,500. - photo courtesy of Cpl. J. Christopher Bewsher

"We took note the person was leaving town and only coming back 24 to 72 hours later. This jumped out as suspicious when you consider the air fare costs," said Cpl. Chris Bewsher.

After a brief interview with the suspect, police searched his luggage.

"When we see an opportunity, we do an investigation on the spot," said Bewsher.

Police confiscated 10, 375 ml bottles of Smirnoff vodka, two, two-litre bottles of mixed alcohol and pop, and an undisclosed amount of pot.

Charges are pending against a 19-year-old male and a 31-year-old female, who was arrested later, police said.

Bewsher said they have placed a priority on stopping smuggling of alcohol into Pond Inlet.

"Whenever there is an abundance of liquor in the community it directly relates to how many calls we will get," he said.

"You can just time it. Once it arrives in town, we will have calls in a matter of hours."

"We are trying to be proactive to make things safer."

There are really only three ways liquor gets into Pond Inlet - through flights, through mail and through the yearly sealift.

"With six flights a week, the rate of contraband items coming into the community is high," said Bewsher.