Chris Hunsley
Northern News Services

Inuvik (July 29/05) - Mob mentality took over a group of Inuvik residents early Sunday morning, as a result of what some are calling a dispute over drug-trafficking territory.

Police were called to disperse the group of 75-100 people that gathered outside the Capital Suites Hotel at around 2 a.m., chanting "Leave our town, leave our town."

The comments were directed at eight male guests from Whitehorse, thought to be drug dealers scoping out the area.

"These people were accused of being in town for the purpose of trafficking," said Inuvik RCMP Staff Sgt. Sid Gray.

It is suspected that at least six members of the mob were local drug traffickers, he added.

"It culminated in these guys being run out of town," said Gray, explaining that after five police officers moved in to keep the crowd away from the hotel, the unwanted guests agreed to leave.

Once informed that the men would be leaving Inuvik, the agitated - and partially liquor-fuelled - mob agreed to disperse. The disturbance lasted approximately one hour.

"Everything went smoothly," said Gray, acknowledging the force had to reach a balance between maintaining good order and protecting the rights of the visitors.

Police did not have grounds to search the hotel guests and cannot legally prevent them from returning to Inuvik at a future date.

"This is not a good thing. It shows the community has a problem with drugs," said Mayor Peter Clarkson, explaining that he understood the men were not only in town to set up operation but to collect money they were owed by residents.

While Clarkson said he wanted the community involved in combatting drugs, the Saturday night incident was the wrong way to go.

"I don't think we want to see this vigilantism in the community," he said.

RCMP escorted six of the men to the Dempster Highway later that morning, making arrangements with Fort McPherson police to ensure them safe passage across the Peel River. For their own safety, the other two men stayed at police headquarters until they could return to Whitehorse by plane.

No injuries

No arrests or injuries were reported.

"I thank God they agreed to leave," said Gray.

The hotel itself was not damaged, as the crowd never entered the premises.

"Our guests were disturbed, though," said general manager Bryce O'Connor, who credits the police with diffusing the situation without real incident.

"The RCMP did a wonderful job."