A 14-month long investigation that disrupted two alleged Yellowknife cocaine trafficking networks and led to charges against 15 suspects is the result of the SA国际影视传媒檚 continued crackdown on the illicit drug trade, says a Mountie close to the probe.
SA国际影视传媒淲e have undertaken a very assertive enforcement strategy, which is underscored by the amount of arrests and charges you have seen in recent years,SA国际影视传媒� said Staff Sgt. Dean Riou, a member of the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 Federal Investigations Unit (FIU).
Mounties announced on Monday that over a dozen people, including seven Yellowknife residents, had been charged following the completion of Project Gloomiest - a FIU-led probe into suspected cocaine trafficking launched in September 2017.
Of the 15 people charged, eight were arrested and released last month, while arrest warrants have been issued for seven others. Fourteen of the 15 charged, including 23-year-old Toufic Chamas, the probeSA国际影视传媒檚 primary target, face cocaine trafficking charges.
Mounties say the police operation netted two firearms and 1,425 grams of what is purported to be cocaine. The drugs, according to Riou, were seized without warrant over the course of investigation.
Riou said believe a second, separate cocaine ring targeted in Project Gloomiest was disrupted to SA国际影视传媒渟ome extent," as a result of the operation.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey will certainly face challenges if they decide to continue their illegal business in Yellowknife,SA国际影视传媒� said Riou.
The suspects wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be distinguished by their alleged affiliations to each group, as they have SA国际影视传媒渃ourt cases pending,SA国际影视传媒� said Riou.
MondaySA国际影视传媒檚 news release from Mounties stated some of the individuals charged are alleged to have trafficked SA国际影视传媒渟ubstitute substancesSA国际影视传媒� marketed as cocaine. While the practice of pushers padding their drugs with powerful but cost-efficient alternatives, including fentanyl, has been seen by law enforcement in recent years, Riou said thatSA国际影视传媒檚 not the case here.
SA国际影视传媒淲e believe some of the individuals were trafficking benign (non-controlled) substances that they were representing as cocaine, in addition to trafficking actual cocaine,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
As the prosecution for those charged in Project Green Manalishi - another major drug trafficking sweep mounted by NWT SA国际影视传媒檚 federal arm in 2015 - winds down, the courts have acknowledged the trend of out-of-town dealers, drawn to the NorthSA国际影视传媒檚 lucrative market, setting up shop in the territory and its capital.
While tackling the problem - and the drug trade in general - is a policing matter, Riou said solving it requires a look at its social roots.
SA国际影视传媒淭he main draw to the North for these networks is the strong demand for cocaine,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭his is a societal problem, not simply a police issue.SA国际影视传媒�
Riou said is coupling its assertive enforcement approach to drug enforcement with inter-agency collaborations to address the underlying issues associated with the sale and consumption of illegal drugs.
SA国际影视传媒淲e do work with a number of government and social agencies that have a wellness mandate to assist them helping those in the community who struggle with addictions issues.SA国际影视传媒�
FACT FILE: WhatSA国际影视传媒檚 in a name?
Project Gloomiest is the third and SA国际影视传媒済loomiestSA国际影视传媒� operation in a long line of investigations beginning with the letter SA国际影视传媒淕.SA国际影视传媒� Due to the divisionSA国际影视传媒檚 SA国际影视传媒淕SA国际影视传媒� designation - each province and territory is ascribed an identifying letter - every project-based investigation is given a title beginning with the SA国际影视传媒渄ivision letter" G.
Gloomiest follows Project Gloom and Project Gloomier, two other recent investigations led by the federal investigations unit.
Source: NWT FIU.
