NWT - A major sweep aimed at drug traffickers was launched in four NWT communities last week.

Sgt. Scott Buchanan: community of Hay River is taking a stand against drug dealers. - NNSL file photo

The RCMP announced on March 24 that arrests had begun in Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Smith and Inuvik.

The police said 22 people were to be arrested concluding several months of investigations.

The charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act involve drugs such as cocaine, crack cocaine, ecstasy, oxycodone, morphine and cannabis.

The first arrests were made and charges laid on March 23.

Cpl. Wes Heron, the media relations officer with the RCMP's G Division, said the arrests are not the result of an umbrella anti-drug project.

Instead, the charges are the result of ongoing investigations in the four communities, he said. "They came to a point where the arrest phase could be realized, so we took the opportunity to do that."

In Hay River, three men – aged 19, 23 and 30 – were all charged with one count each of trafficking in a controlled substance. They are to appear in Hay River territorial court on May 4.

A minor in Hay River was also charged with one count of trafficking in a controlled substance.

Three of the four charges in Hay River involve cocaine, while the other involves marijuana.

"I'm hoping the drug dealers in Hay River realize the community is taking a stand in hand with the RCMP against these drug dealers," said Sgt. Scott Buchanan of

the Hay River RCMP.

Buchanan said he also hopes the arrests will help prevent drug trafficking in the future.

In Fort Smith, a 27-year-old man was charged with one count of trafficking in a controlled substance. He is to appear in Fort Smith Territorial Court on May 11.

Also in Fort Smith, a 19-year-old faces two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance and one count of breach of probation. The teenager was remanded in custody for a show cause hearing in Yellowknife territorial court on March 29.

In Inuvik, a man faces three counts of trafficking in a controlled substance. His next court appearance is set for June 2 in Inuvik territorial court.

As of late last week, there were also three people arrested in Yellowknife as part of the sweep.

The identities of the people charged have not yet been released by police, Heron said. "The names are being withheld at this time simply because the investigations are ongoing."

Heron said more arrests are pending and it is hoped that arresting 22 people would make an impact on the illegal drug trade.

"One would hope that this would put the people who deal in illicit drugs or use illicit drugs on notice that enforcement is there," he said. "It's happening."

The arrests involved a number of sections of the RCMP, including 'G' Division's Major Crimes Unit, air services, contract policing, the Yellowknife Detachment's General Investigation Section, the police dog service, traffic services and uniformed personnel in all four communities.

"These types of things take a lot of manpower when you're going out looking for a bunch of individuals in a community," Heron noted, adding that arrests were made at roughly the same time. "In a small community, news travels fast."

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.