Massive amount of drugs in bust
One kilo of cocaine, 25 kilos of marijuana found in Hudson House apartment by firefighters
Daniel Campbell
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, March 12, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Court documents indicate the amount of cocaine and marijuana seized in a drug bust two weeks ago could be among the largest seizures ever in the Northwest Territories.
In an unusual turn of events, firefighters responding to a call at Hudson House apartments on 48 Street saw an "unknown substance" in the apartment where the alarm originated from on Feb. 25.
A pot left on the stove set off the fire alarm, according to a document used to obtain a search warrant for the apartment.
Firefighters, who needed to break down the front and bedroom door of the apartment, then called RCMP for assistance. When police arrived, they saw the substance and secured the area, getting a search warrant approved later that day.
No one was found inside the apartment.
A representative with Northern Properties indicated the locks to the apartment had been changed, according to the document. RCMP said they suspect this was done to conceal a trafficking operation.
According to the search warrant, RCMP seized 1.1 kilograms of cocaine and 25.3 kilograms of marijuana. The street value of the drugs is estimated at $506,708 for the marijuana and $177,696 for the cocaine, for a total of $684,404.
The estimated value of the drugs is gleaned off a 2012 court decision, where a Yellowknife man, Alexander Mackenzie Smith, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for drug trafficking after police found 17.5 kilograms of marijuana and 2.5 kilograms of cocaine in a Range Lake apartment.
Crown prosecutor Glen Boyd estimated the drugs in that case were worth about $750,000.
RCMP seized other items from the Hudson House apartment, including score sheets, a food sealer and a safe.
Police found a number of documents in the apartment as well, indicating who the tenant was.
Yesterday, RCMP announced they charged Richard Shushack, 57, with possession of cocaine and marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. Shushack was released from custody for his next court appearance on June 17.
