Yellowknife (Oct 29/04) - The RCMP seized an estimated $140,000 worth of pot and crack-cocaine in Fort Providence earlier this week, drugs they believe were destined for Yellowknife.

"We are exceptionally happy to have intercepted (these drugs before) they made it into our communities," said RCMP Sgt. Daryl Key in a press release.

Police made the seizure Monday evening during a routine traffic stop designed to reduce speeding and impaired driving along a stretch of Highway 3.

The driver of the car gave officers "reason to believe" drugs were in the vehicle, Key said.

Officers obtained a search warrant and after scouring the car, came away with 5.6 kilograms of marijuana and 350 grams of crack-cocaine. Given current prices in the capital, Yellowknifer estimates the haul is worth roughly $140,000 on the street; about $110,000 for the marijuana and $35,000 for the crack.

"We seized enough marijuana in Fort Providence for over 14,000 joints and enough crack for 500 individual sales or doses," Key said.

RCMP Cpl. Larry O'Brien with the G Division Drug Awareness Unit, said he believed the drugs were destined for Yellowknife.

The driver of the car faces a charge of possession of controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. Police declined to release his name while their investigation is ongoing.

While the seizure prevented a "significant amount" of illegal narcotics from reaching Yellowknife's streets, roadside busts typically do not lead to upper-tier drug traffickers, O'Brien said.

"Usually, the kingpins hire others to drive the cars," said O'Brien. The couriers, he said, rarely co-operate with police investigations.

The seizure comes on the heals of two other large busts in Hay River and Rae.

Police estimate they have intercepted the equivalent of 34,000 joints and 775 hits of crack in the three operations. Police also recovered $45,000 in cash, which they believe is tied to drug trafficking.