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WHATI/LAC LA MARTRE
RCMP seized 227 grams of marijuana during a 24-hour check stop along the Tlicho winter road on March 19. The discovery was made by two Whati RCMP officers shortly before midnight.

RCMP seized 227 grams of marijuana en route to Whati on March 19. - NNSL file photo

A 32-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman both Whati residents, have been charged with trafficking marijuana and possession for the purpose of trafficking marijuana. Both parties were released pending their first court appearance on June 26. Landry said the accused are known to RCMP at the Whati detachment.

Cpl. Jeremy Landry, commander for the Whati detachment, said the seizure will create a significant disruption in the drug trade in Whati due to the size of the community and the amount of marijuana seized - about $6,800 worth.

"Whati is a hamlet of 500 people," said Landry, "Around half a pound is significant for a population of this size.

"To put it in context, that would be one gram for 227 people, just over half our population. If you want to know what that is in terms of joints, that would be enough cannabis to service every person in the community.

"I would say it will significantly disrupt the drug trafficking in Whati."

This was the second time RCMP had organized a 24-hour check stop in partnership with officers from Whati, Gameti, and Behchoko as well as with co-operation with "G" Division Traffic Services. Each of the RCMP detachments covered one of three eight-hour shifts.

The Whati officers began their shift at 10 p.m., just two hours before the drugs and an unstated volume of alcohol was seized from a Whati-bound vehicle.

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