Approximately one pound of crack cocaine was seized from a vehicle near Enterprise on Sunday by the RCMP Federal Investigations Unit (FIU), according to a news release from police.
Police say arrests came after a vehicle was stopped in the South Slave hamlet.
photo courtesy of the NWT RCMP
"On Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, members of the FIU stopped a northbound vehicle, near Enterprise," stated Julie Plourde, media relations officer.
"The vehicle was believed to be en route to Yellowknife. The vehicle stop was initiated as part of a three-month investigation into the trafficking of cocaine in the Northwest Territories."
The RCMP stated that the vehicle had two occupants and both were arrested. Upon searching the vehicle, the one pound of crack cocaine was found.
Following the arrests, police were able to make a connection to two downtown Yellowknife apartments and searches were conducted in a downtown apartment building.
These searches were conducted by the Yellowknife RCMP General Investigations Section, in support of this investigation," stated Plourde. "Evidence of drug trafficking was located inside the apartment. Two people were arrested and later released without charges."
Ronald Joseph Payne, 55, and Lyle Elliot Yanke, 61, both of Yellowknife, were charged in the crack cocaine seizure. They were charged with trafficking cocaine contrary to Section 5(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, contrary to Section 5(2) of the CDSA.
ʺThe RCMP in the Northwest Territories sees the damage done to our communities by the illicit drug trade on a daily basis," stated Plourde. "We remain committed to conducting enforcement at all levels of the distribution chain. In this case, we were able to arrest two individuals allegedly transporting drugs from Alberta into the NWT and seize the drugs before they were able to reach our communities to do more harmʺ states Staff Sgt. Dean Riou, of the ʺGʺ Division Federal Investigations Unit."
Payne and Yanke released
Plourde stated in the news release that Payne and Yanke were released from custody following and appearance before a Justice of the Peace, Feb. 17.
They are required to appear in court on March 23 in Hay River.
Payne and Yanke were released from custody after appearing before a Justice of the Peace on Monday. Their next court appearance is on March 23 in Hay River.
The RCMP are requesting that residents with information about the case are asked to contact the Yellowknife RCMP at 669-1111 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Residents can also visit the nwtnutips.com to submit an anonymous tip by text the “nwtnutips” plus your message to 274637.
Anyone with information on suspicious activity is asked to call Yellowknife RCMP at 669-1111, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 nwtnutips.com, (click on "submit a web tip") or text: “nwtnutips” plus your message to 274637.