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Major drug bust made in Yellowknife

Cara Loverock
Northern News Services
Published Monday, December 1, 2008

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - RCMP have seized several pounds of crack cocaine and marijuana, in addition to large amounts of cash and weapons, during a recent drug raid dubbed 'Project Germane.'

On Monday, Nov. 24 Yellowknife RCMP accompanied by a police services dog executed search warrants on three downtown residences.

NNSL Photo/Graphic

Crack cocaine, marijuana, a semi-automatic handgun and large sums of cash were recently seized by the RCMP in downtown Yellowknife on Nov. 24. - Cara Loverock/NNSL photo

The search resulted in the arrest of three Alberta men, Mohamed Jomha, 31, Ali Ashraf, 22, and Adrian Joseph, 28. RCMP Sgt. Brad Kaeding said during a press conference on Friday the investigation is still ongoing.

"Every piece of information could lead to something else so until the investigators here are satisfied they've tied up as many (ends) as possible."

Seized during the raid included two pounds of crack cocaine, eight pounds of marijuana, a .45 calibre semi-automatic handgun and a large amount of cash. The RCMP would not disclose the street value of the drugs seized and, according to Kaeding, do not yet know the amount of cash seized.

"We consider this to be quite a success in the drug trade in Yellowknife. Unfortunately the business of crime doesn't stop nor does the business of policing. We don't have much time to take a breather and celebrate" said Kaeding.

"It's an ongoing battle ... It's right back to the streets again."

He stressed the fact that the community needs to be aware of the drug trade in Yellowknife and how they need to work together with the police to make the community safe.

"We know that there are people in the community who know specific aspects of the drug trade. We depend on their information for, whatever their motivation is, to provide that information," said Kaeding.

"The nature of criminal activity is such that people will go to where they can make money. Yellowknife is no different from any other community, I would say, in Canadian society today," said Kaeding.

"If there is a profit to be made selling drugs in Yellowknife, we're going to have that continue to take place here."

The three men arrested are each charged with one count of trafficking, two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and one count of possession of proceeds from a crime.

A court date wasn't set at press time.