Iqaluit (May 08/06) - RCMP made two drug seizures in the last week.

On April 27, the "V" Division's canine unit executed a warrant on an Iqaluit residence. They seized one kilogram of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and money.

A 35-year-old Iqaluit woman has been charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. She has been released and ordered to appear before the Nunavut Court of Justice on July 3.

On April 28, the dog team was back at it. They executed a warrant at the Canadian North cargo warehouse in Iqaluit.

The search resulted in the seizure of a half-pound of marijuana. No arrests were made, and the investigation into that incident continues.

Man arrested under Immigration Act

The Nunavut RCMP say they have made their first-ever arrest under the Canada Immigration Act.

Zouhair Choucheir - a 35-year-old Iqaluit resident who was born in Lebanon but grew up in Russia - was arrested for failing to renew a temporary work permit.

He has been flown to Ottawa, where he will appear for an immigration hearing.

"This is significant for Nunavut because it is a reminder that we face the same issues and threats that larger areas do," said Cpl. Mike Toohey, a member of the V Division's federal enforcement section, which handles immigration.

The RCMP were unsure whether Choucheir was a Lebanese citizen or not.

Church fire still hot topic

No charges have been made in the suspicious fire that gutted the old stone church in Cambridge Bay more than a week ago.

Cambridge Bay RCMP confirm that the blaze - which claimed the historic stone church on the outskirts of the hamlet - is still being investigated. They are urging members of the public with any information about the fire to contact them.

In court

Tommy Nuvaqiq will have to wait again before a date is set for his preliminary trial. This time until May 18.

He is accused with attempted murder, sexual assault and break and enter in connection with a June 20, 2005, incident in which a 31-year-old Nova Scotia woman was attacked in a boarded up home in Pangnirtung.

His case was postponed during a May 2 court appearance in Iqaluit.

The man charged in connection with the death of a six-year-old girl in Kugaaruk will next be in court June 6.

Shawn Kayaitok appeared briefly in court on May 2 and his case was adjourned until the summer.

Kayaitok, 20, faces two charges, one of first degree murder and one of interfering with a dead body, in connection to the March 10 killing.

He also faces previous charges of sexual assault, this one against a 12-year-old boy.