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March dates for alleged traffickers

Charges stem from May drug bust

Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Feb 17/03) - The fate of four Inuvik residents arrested on drug trafficking charges last May is still to be determined.

As a result of an RCMP undercover sting operation, Lenny George Blake, Pat Greenland, Justin Wallace Simms and Robert Bobby Ross were charged with a total of 14 offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act last spring.

The charges relate to trafficking cocaine and marijuana and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Inuvik Staff Sgt. Mark Wharton said he had arranged for all witnesses to be in Inuvik on Dec. 10 to present evidence at preliminary hearings. But a few days before the hearings, the Crown's office informed him that their testimony was not necessary.

Simms, 24, has been scheduled to appear before the NWT Supreme Court in Yellowknife March 13 to answer to two charges of trafficking cocaine and one count of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. One count of careless storage of a firearm has been stayed by the Crown.

Greenland, 19, is also set to appear in Yellowknife Supreme court March 13 on two counts of trafficking cocaine. Three counts of trafficking marijuana laid against him have been stayed.

Blake, 29, still faces three outstanding charges of trafficking cocaine. Two counts of trafficking marijuana and one count of breaching probation have been stayed. His court date has not yet been finalized.

Ross, 34, was charged with one count of trafficking cocaine. That charge has also been stayed by the Crown.

Burke said the decision was made to stay several charges against the four suspects for many reasons.

"It was due to a lot of factors. Ultimately I expect there will be a resolution (on all outstanding matters), but this wasn't just a deal that was made. It was based on a lot of different things that were going on," he said.