Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Nov 18/05) - The RCMP have put a crimp in Fort Simpson's marijuana pipeline.

They have charged six people with trafficking and another seven people with possession following a series of arrests earlier this month.

Fort Simpson RCMP took $2,500 worth of marijuana off the streets through multiple arrests during the first week of November. They also seized related drug paraphernalia, more than $1,500 believed to be the proceeds of drug deals, and unsafely stored firearms. Const. Jack Keefe is seen here with the contraband. Community leaders say hard drugs are on the streets, too. - Derek Neary/NNSL photo

"Marijuana is prevalent in this community," RCMP Cpl. Al Shepherd said, adding that a few of the accused came from Wrigley.

A combination of tips from residents and investigations dating back to early October led to the busts, said Shepherd. There may be more to come, he added.

He also noted that two youths were caught smoking a joint behind a house last week. They were sent to the justice circle.

Mayor Raymond Michaud lauded the police for nabbing the traffickers. He said he has no sympathy for "pushers."

"I get upset when they (the police) start wasting our taxpayers' money on users, where they get a guy with a bag of weed or a couple of joints. To me, that's a waste of time," said Michaud. "But if a guy is selling it, and they can prove he's selling it, throw the book at him."

Keyna Norwegian, Chief of the Liidlii Kue First Nation, said she didn't know the details of the drug busts so she was reluctant to comment.

However, she did say, "Everybody's been complaining about drug use in the community, and it's so freely available, but what I'm more worried about is when the real hard-core drugs like crack start coming here, then I'll be worried."

However, cocaine has been sold in Fort Simpson for a long time, according to Marie Lafferty, president of the Fort Simpson Metis.

"It's no secret," she said. "They (the police) better get after the heavier stuff. It's here. It's been here for years... it's a serious problem."

Michaud said he too has heard that hard drugs are indeed circulating in Fort Simpson, even if only in small quantities.

"It's around," he said. "That's the stuff that really scares me."

Yellowknife police recently took substantial volumes of cocaine off the streets. But in Fort Simpson there have been no arrests in association with "hard drugs" yet, Shepherd acknowledged.