Kátł'odeeche First Nation says it's using the Canada Revenue Agency to throw out suspected drug dealers

The former chief of Kátł'odeeche First Nation in the N.W.T. says her band has been using Canada's tax agency as a tool to help them crack down on suspected drug dealers.

April Martel said during her time as chief, she sometimes reported people to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) if they had unexplained assets and she suspected they were drug dealers. If the CRA investigated and seized the person's assets, that gave the First Nation the ability to evict the person using a band council resolution.

"This person has five trucks, four boats, skidoos, quads. This guy doesn't have a job. Well, CRA will ask for an inventory and assets," she said.

Martel, who was the chief for six years until last week, said the band has used the CRA to identify one person so far, whose belongings were seized.

Martel said she is working with the RCMP and the Department of Justice to create a policy allowing other communities to do the same thing. 

In an email to CBC News, CRA spokesperson Benoit Sabourin said the agency "supports a strong and robust tax system" and it regularly helps police pursue people or businesses engaging in illegal activity.

Sabourin said the agency is committed to "aggressively pursuing" people found to be making illegal income from things like drug trafficking, theft or fraud.

"We ensure that unreported income from suspected illicit activities is subject to appropriate taxes and penalties," Sabourin said. To do so, the CRA can garnish wages and seize or place liens on assets. 

Const. Josh Seaward, media relations officer for the N.W.T. RCMP, said the RCMP does communicate with the CRA regarding the illegal drug trade, most commonly to report cash seizures.

"Canada Revenue [Agency] is regularly notified of our larger seizures of cash, which is actually still taxable income, even if it was obtained through drug dealing or other illicit activities," he said.

Martel said after someone has been evicted, she also has followed up to make sure they don't return.

"You gotta keep active with it," she said. "Because you bring consistency, they'll know they're not welcome."