Drug and alcohol smugglers get creative
Recent RCMP discoveries find marijuana, alcohol in Shredded Wheat boxes, juice jugs
James Goldie
Northern News Services
Monday, September 21, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Recent police seizures across the territory have turned up a number of shipments of contraband stashed in unusual packages.
RCMP intercepted vodka in juice jugs destined for Lutsel K'e at a Yellowknife airport hangar on Sept. 13. - photo courtesy of the RCMP |
On Sept. 11, RCMP uncovered 181 grams of marijuana hidden inside a box of Shredded Wheat at a Yellowknife airport hangar. The drugs were destined for Lutsel K'e.
On September 13, police seized two 2.63 liter juice jugs filled with vodka also destined for Lutsel K'e, where alcohol is prohibited. The next day, RCMP stated in a news release that officers in Tulita intercepted a suspicious package containing 196 grams of pot. The drug had been compressed and wrapped in seven different packages and stuffed inside a box with a coffee maker. Charges of trafficking marijuana are pending against a 22-year old Tulita resident as the investigation continues.
"It just goes to show you that people do try to be creative. As many things as you can imagine someone trying to in order to smuggle their liquor or drugs they do do it," said Const. Elenore Sturko.
She also cited an incident last month in which alcohol was stashed inside a soap box that was heading to Behchoko, another prohibition community.
"If you can imagine it,
it's probably happened," she said.
The same day as the Shredded Wheat discovery, officers returned to the same location and seized a "suspicious package" which contained six bottles of vodka. This package was being shipped to Gameti where alcohol is also prohibited.
Sturko said she could not disclose details about how the RCMP were tipped off to the illegal packages.
"If I told you too much, it might render what we do ineffective," she said.
Sturko stated that the practice of shipping drugs and alcohol as cargo or in checked luggage is common and the RCMP is stepping up its efforts to combat this activity.
"It's an ongoing (effort) here but I would say definitely that our detachment commander did identify this as a priority -- that we should be doing our best to make alcohol seizures when possible," she said.
"What you're seeing is the result of efforts that are being made by the Yellowknife RCMP detachment."
The drug and alcohol seizures over the past week are still under investigation. No charges have been laid as of press time.
