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Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services
 Nunavut communities are discovering that many social problems disappear along with alcohol when the latter is poured down the drain, rather than into drinking glasses. - Merle Robillard/NNSL photo illustration |
Panniqtuuq RCMP, for example, increased its alcohol and drug investigations over the Christmas period, seizing a total of 51 bottles of liquor and $6,000 worth of marijuana at the airport.
As a result, police received no alcohol-related complaints this holiday season. "If those 51 bottles of liquor had been in the community, there would have been problems," said Const. Jeff Johnston.
"It's a matter of finding out who is doing it and acting on it," he said.
On Dec. 22, the RCMP seized $4,000 worth of marijuana and charged a 29-year-old man with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, breach of probation and breach of undertaking.
The same day, police found 20 bottles of liquor with an estimated street value of $4,000 at the airport. RCMP charged a 22-year-old woman with one count of keeping liquor for sale and one count of unlawful possession of liquor.
Both people are scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 29 in Panniqtuug.
On Dec. 23, police seized another 17 bottles of booze at the airport and $2,000 worth of marijuana. A woman was charged with keeping liquor for sale and unlawful possession of liquor.
Although no one claimed the marijuana, police are still investigating.
Then, on Dec. 30, police found 11 more bottles of liquor with an estimated street value of $2,100.
The next day, police seized another three bottles. In both cases, no one turned up to claim the alcohol. However, the investigation is continuing.
Getting proactive
During last year's holiday season Panniqtuuq police seized just half a bottle of liquor and police were plagued with alcohol-related complaints.
"Basically, we got smart and said we've got to take a proactive approach to this and not just sit back and react to complaints," he said. "We're really happy we didn't have any problems."
Hamlet Mayor Hezakiah Oshutapik noticed the decrease in alcohol-induced incidents. "It (the holiday season) wasn't alcohol-free, but it went really well," he said. "I appreciate that the RCMP did their jobs. I am really proud of them in that area."
Sgt. Michael Jeffrey of the Iqaluit detachment also saw a correlation between increased enforcement and decreased crime. Jeffrey said in the past eight months, the RCMP has increased its efforts to target those selling booze illegally.
Now, he's seeing fewer alcohol-related complaints and believes crime over the holidays was "lesser in extreme."
Jeffrey said police have also tried to educate the public by speaking out in newspapers and on the radio. "It had an effect on lowering complaints," he said.
No officer was on duty during the holidays in Kimmirut, but bylaw officer Jason Anawak filled in.
However, Cpl. Dan Mayer said he was investigating a Dec. 22 incident, which occurred while he was away. Mayer said several intoxicated young men challenged Anawak to a fight and drove his car into a house.
Mayer said he believes people brought alcohol into the community Dec. 21, the day he left. It was the first plane in nearly a week. "I guess there was a lot of stuff that came in," he said. Between Dec. 20 and 25, Mayer received 17 complaints.
Cpl. Clare Kines, who works in Nanisivik and Arctic Bay, said December was an extremely busy month. RCMP seized 12 grams of marijuana on Dec. 15. One man was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and another young was charged with possession.
Kines said last year was also busy in the North Baffin. RCMP took 80 prisoners last year compared with just 19 the previous year.
"It mostly goes back to alcohol,"he said.
Still, some communities, like Clyde River, remained quiet with no complaints or drug and alcohol seizures. "It's always pretty quiet here," said Cpl. Gavin Nash.
