Yellowknife RCMP charge 11 after months-long drug investigation

• UPDATE | Byron Bibby was convicted of possession for the purpose of trafficking and was sentenced to 36 months in July 2017. A charge of conspiracy to commit trafficking was withdrawn. Sam Ovayuack was convicted and sentenced to 30 months in jail in October 2017.

Yellowknife RCMP announced Wednesday that 11 people have been charged in connection with a lengthy drug investigation, culminating in one of the largest seizures of illicit drugs, guns, cash, and merchandise in the territory in a decade. 

Monday's seizures, which began with an arrest of a British Columbia man en route to Yellowknife during a traffic stop near Fort Providence and included executing search warrants at six separate locations in Yellowknife, Ndilo, and Dettah, were the culmination of a months-long investigation into a drug ring operating in the Northwest Territories and Yukon, according to RCMP Supt. Michael LeSage

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"The investigation focused on the activities of Todd Christopher Dube, and a criminal network operating underneath him to distribute drugs," said LeSage.

• ​14 arrested, 1,000 fentanyl pills seized in multiple searches in Yellowknife area

"In addition to the aforementioned seizures, police monitored an extremely busy 24-hour drug trafficking operation, which utilized an extensive network of taxi cabs, street level drug traffickers, and stash locations."

The investigation, named "Green Manalishi," began in November 2015, though RCMP say they were investigating the network for more than a year. In addition to Monday's seizures, LeSage confirmed that a March traffic stop, in which two women aged 55 and 77 were charged with drug trafficking, was related to the investigation. 

• 77-year-old N.W.T. woman charged with drug trafficking

Dube, 20, is in police custody and has been charged with conspiracy to commit trafficking; possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana; conspiracy to commit aggravated assault; trafficking cocaine; trafficking cocaine, marijuana, and codeine; trafficking cocaine, marijuana, codeine, and fentanyl; and possession of property obtained by crime exceeding $5,000.

Ten other individuals are facing various charges as a result of the investigation.

In total, 1,200 fentanyl pills, four kilograms of cocaine, 16 pounds of marijuana, 11 litres of liquid codeine, $75,000 in cash, and 10 guns were seized during the investigation, as well as two vehicles and a snow machine. Numerous high-end items believed to have been purchased with the proceeds of trafficking were also seized, including designer clothing and diamonds.

RCMP Const. Elenore Sturko said that the seizure "in terms of quantity and size, is probably one of the most significant we've had in about 10 years."

Despite the success of the operation, Yellowknife RCMP detachment commander Matt Peggs said that "seeing the scope, first hand, of the demand for illicit drugs in our community should be a sobering moment for everybody.

"Drug trafficking cannot exist where there is no demand. We must continue to work to extinguish the demand for these toxic substances."

In addition to the charges laid against Todd Dube, the following individuals have been charged:

• Brittany Dube, of Yellowknife, charged with conspiracy to commit trafficking and possession for the purpose of trafficking of cocaine, fentanyl and marijuana;

• Byron Bibby, of Yellowknife, charged with conspiracy to commit trafficking and possession for the purpose of trafficking of cocaine, fentanyl and marijuana;

• Luqman Hussein, of Toronto, charged with conspiracy to commit trafficking and possession for the purpose of trafficking of cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana;

• Yohannes Seyoume, of Edmonton, charged with conspiracy to commit trafficking and possession for the purpose of trafficking of cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana;

• Katrina Stiopu, of Ndilo, charged with conspiracy to commit trafficking and possession for the purpose of trafficking of cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana, trafficking cocaine, marijuana, codeine, and fentanyl, and possession of property obtained by crime exceeding $5,000;

• Ryley Moore, of Hay River, charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated assault;

• Eddy Radeka, of Burnaby, B.C., charged with trafficking cocaine, marijuana, and codeine, and trafficking cocaine, marijuana, codeine, and fentanyl;

• Sam Ovayuack, of Yellowknife, charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking fentanyl and possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine;

• Vitaline Lafferty, of Ndilo, charged with trafficking cocaine, marijuana, and codeine; and

• Mary Anne Lafferty, of Ndilo, charged with trafficking cocaine, marijuana, and codeine.

Moore and Hussein remain at large and warrants have been issued for their arrest. The other nine suspects are in police custody.