Canada Post uncovers cocaine, marijuana en route to Cambridge Bay

RCMP members in Cambridge Bay have arrested and charged a local man with three counts of drug trafficking after police discovered cocaine and marijuana in mail parcels en route to the Kitikmeot community.

On Jan. 10, Canada Post inspectors intercepted two packages headed to Cambridge Bay; one containing 67 grams of cocaine concealed in two pop cans and another containing two pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $54,000.

Cambridge Bay RCMP and its V Division drug section launched an investigation that led to the arrest of 55-year-old David Nakashook.

The Cambridge Bay man was released on a promise to appear in court in March, 2012.

In 2002, Nakashook pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a heavily intoxicated 17-year-old girl at an August, 2001 house party in Cambridge Bay.

While awaiting his sentence, the hamlet of Cambridge Bay issued a letter requesting Nakashook be banned from the community.

Justice Beverley Browne refused, saying banning Nakashook from Cambridge Bay would mean “transferring the problem from one community to another.”

His jail sentence was eventually waived in lieu of the 14 months he served in remand at the Baffin Correctional Centre in 2001-2002.

Instead, he was released with a strict set of conditions and instructed to carry a copy of the hamlet’s letter with him at all times.

At the time, Justice Browne told Nakashook that, if convicted of another serious crime, he risked being deemed a dangerous offender.