Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

IQALUIT (May 03/99) - After spending more than one year in prison following his arrest during one of the biggest drug busts the North has ever seen, Iqaluit resident Claude Caza pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and to a fraud charge.

Before Winnipeg's Justice Brenda Keyser, Caza, the long-time owner of The Snack restaurant, admitted to trafficking almost a half a million dollars worth of hash, or about 200 kilograms, over a three-year period and to committing fraud.

"The Crown recommended a seven-year sentence. Today, he was sentenced to three-and-a-half years," said Sgt. Glen Siegersma, the RCMP officer who has worked in Iqaluit's drug section for the better part of three years.

In handing down the sentence, Justice Keyser took into account the fact that Caza had already served 13 months while awaiting trial.

Caza finally pleaded guilty to two of the seven drug and arson-related charges, including the insurance fraud charge which was committed when he is said to have burned down The Snack.

"He pled guilty to the fraud of the insurance company, in essence pleading guilty to the arson. He had to commit the arson to commit the fraud," said Siegersma.

Justice Keyser also ordered Caza to pay a total of $570,000 -- $170,000 of which will go towards repaying the insurance company. The remaining $400,000 makes up for the money he earned during his drug sales.

"A rough breakdown of the 200 kilos over the three-year period, broken down into a street level of half-ounce to an ounce, works out to $400,000. He's basically forfeiting his profits from the drug trade for that three-year period."

Caza's common-law spouse, Clara Rumboldt, also appeared in court Thursday and received a two-year conditional sentence for her part in the trafficking ring. The court said she will be permitted to serve her sentence at home and continue her employment at The Snack restaurant, because it was determined that her criminal activity was committed only in relation to Caza.

"Had Mr. Caza not been involved in drugs, chances are she would not have been involved in assisting him in the drugs," Siegersma said.