Two nabbed in Behchoko drug busts
Police seize cocaine, marijuana, cash and brass knuckles in early morning raids
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Behchoko/Rae Edzo
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Two men are charged and RCMP are looking for a third man after police took part in a series of drug raids in Behchoko on June 3.
The RCMP have not named the third man they are looking for while they continue to investigate. |
According to a June 11 news release from the RCMP, search warrants were executed at three residences during the early morning hours with the assistance of the RCMP police dog services. A vehicle was also searched, stated police.
"Quantities of cocaine, marijuana and cash were seized during the searches," RCMP stated in the news release.
"A set of brass knuckles and drug paraphernalia were also seized."
Keith Washie, 29, of Behchoko is charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. Sonny Simpson, 30, also of Behchoko, is charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a prohibited weapon - the brass knuckles.
Simpson, who has been in custody since his arrest, was to appear in front of a justice of the peace for a bail hearing June 19 in Yellowknife.
Washie is scheduled to appear in court in Behchoko on July 4. It is not clear if he is currently in custody.
The RCMP have not named the third man they are looking for while they continue to investigate.
A Behchoko resident, who did not want to be named, told News/North he had never seen anything like it in all his years in the community.
"We never before saw a bunch of police cars in front of a house conducting raids," the man said in front of the Yellowknife courthouse on June 12.
Sgt. Scott Young, commander of the Behchoko RCMP detachment, stated the bust makes the streets of the community safer.
"This investigation and arrests show that drug trafficking and the social ills that accompany it can be prevalent in any community," Young stated in the news release.
"The local detachment members did a great job of dismantling this trafficking network.
"Drugs destroy communities and we are committed to taking them off the streets in our communities."
Police have not said exactly how much cocaine and marijuana they seized nor have they said how much cash was recovered.
According to RCMP spokesperson Marie York-Condon, it was one of the largest seizures of cocaine Behchoko RCMP have seen in years.
Police ask readers to contact RCMP or Crime Stoppers if they have information that can help in the investigation.
