A territorial court judge slapped a Fort Simpson woman, now living in Wrigley, with a hefty fine after she was convicted of possession of 0.4 grams of the dangerous substance.

The conviction arose out of charges laid by RCMP after the search of a vehicle on the highway east of the village last June.

The 31-year-old woman received a $920 fine.

A male, who was also charged in the case, was acquitted after the Crown could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he had knowledge that the drug was in the vehicle police searched.

RCMP say they are pleased that the judge laid such a hefty fine on the woman.

"Because it was a first conviction, the tone of the conviction confirms that the courts will not treat offenses involving crack cocaine lightly," said Fort Simpson RCMP Sgt. Dean Taylor. "I've been here four and a half years and this is the first instance where we've been involved in a crack cocaine case."

Dubbed the "working-man's heroin" by some, crack cocaine is a highly addictive derivative of cocaine.