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Drug sweep successful, police say

Lisa Scott
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 17/05) - Thirty-one people are in police custody as investigations into a major drug trafficking ring continue this week.

Officers from the RCMP "G" Division in Yellowknife swept through three businesses and four residences Thursday, searching for drugs and other paraphernalia connected to high level dealers in the city.



Police remove boxes of evidence from the Right Spot Sports Bar and Grill in Yellowknife, Thursday. It was one of three businesses raided and searched as part of a major drug bust. Thirty-one people were arrested, with charges still pending as of Friday. - Dorothy Westerman/NNSL photo


Police cars sat outside the Right Spot Sports Bar and Grill, the Diner and Johnson's Building Supplies during the day, with two drug dogs moving in and out, searching the premises.

The parking entrance to the Northern Heights condominium complex was also blocked off by police vehicles late in the day.

RCMP superintendent Rick Roy said an undisclosed amount of cocaine, marijuana and weapons were seized and "the investigation continues with vigour."

Charges were slow in being laid and it was expected that many of those arrested would be released before any charges were laid. Roy said they expect a core group of four to seven people will be arraigned and appear before the NWT courts this week.

As the investigation unfolds, police say they toppled a drug supply chain that had been funnelling illegal substances to the NWT from as far away as Vancouver.

Two Yellowknife residents were arrested at a home in Edmonton and are on their way North to face charges.

Drugs were believed to go through western cities before making their way to Yellowknife. The 18-month investigation, called Project Gunship, couldn't have gone better, said Roy.

The 50 officers involved, 10 from outside of the city, worked into the morning Friday, but were feeling very proud of the operation so far, said Roy.

"Our timing was great and everything fell into place," he said.

The investigation took so long because police were targeting what they called the "highest organized group in town" of drug dealers.

On Friday, Roy said the police were undoubtedly successful in arresting the top operators responsible for bringing cocaine and other drugs into the North.

More information is expected as police continue to collect information from interviews and searches.

"It's almost like the smoke hasn't settled yet. As soon as it does, we'll be able to give comprehensive news releases," said Roy.