Cara Loverock
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, December 24, 2008

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Yellowknife RCMP arrested two Yellowknife men on Tuesday in relation to a cocaine trafficking investigation involving the Navigator restaurant at the Yellowknife airport.

Brad Baker, 36, and Robert Howie, 58, are both Yellowknife residents and have been charged with cocaine trafficking. Yellowknifer identified Baker as the co-owner of the restaurant in an article published in February 2007.

RCMP seized approximately 1,016 grams of cocaine, which has been identified as originating in Edmonton, according to police.

"The cocaine was recovered in the facility," said Yellowknife RCMP Sgt. Wayne Norris.

"It's the opinion of the investigators there was probably more there ... You don't sell (cocaine) by the pound. You obviously cut it up to smaller portions."

RCMP believe the cocaine was being cut, or processed, at the restaurant and are testing the cocaine for any harmful additives.

"That wasn't very long ago this other cocaine was found to have this dangerous additive to it," said Norris. Earlier this month, health officials and police notified the public a chemical substance was being added to cocaine to increase its street market value, which was dangerous to the immune system.

Norris said the cocaine is being sent to labs to be tested. The RCMP's investigation was the result of a tip from the public that was received in mid-December.

"It's the general public providing us with information. The more information we have, the more effective we can be," said Norris, adding "there was excellent co-operation throughout the airport system."

He said he did not have the information to confirm where the two men were arrested, or if they were employees of the Navigator, but confirmed the arrests did take place in Yellowknife.

Baker and Howie will next appear in court on Tuesday, Feb. 17.