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IKALUKTUTIAK/CAMBRIDGE BAY - A 28-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman have been charged following a drug bust at the Cambridge Bay airport on April 14.

Approximately 130 grams of marijuana were seized. The two have been charged with possession of marijuana and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Staff Sgt. Charles Gauthier of the Cambridge Bay RCMP said the individuals were arrested after the RCMP received a tip indicating the individuals would be in possession of drugs. The man and woman were travelling from Yellowknife to Cambridge Bay.

Gauthier said the RCMP has been increasing drug enforcement efforts across Nunavut.

"It's a Nunavut-wide plan for stepped-up drug enforcement, as well as trying to deal more with family violence," Gauthier said. "When you step up drug and alcohol enforcement, bootleggers and stuff, one will help the other."

He said this is especially important in communities where airlines don't require a security check before passengers board a plane, as was the case of the individuals caught on April 14.

"I think one of the problems is that ... when you leave Yellowknife to come North and the same going to Iqaluit - there are no security checks so people carry it on," said Gauthier. "This individual was carrying it on."

A slew of investigations have been made in Cambridge Bay during the past few weeks.

Between March 1 and 25, a number of packages were inspected by postal workers under the Canada Post Act, which allows employees to inspect packages deemed suspicious. The inspections were based on tips from community members. Anything illegal found in the packages was then handed over to the RCMP, including a package containing approximately 200 grams of marijuana.

No charges have been laid as the investigation is still ongoing.