Iqaluit cops nab ecstasy, meth, weed, cocaine in three separate busts

An RCMP handout photo shows ecstasy pills, right, and methamphetamines, left, seized during a bust in Iqaluit Aug. 3. A 34-year old woman faces possession and trafficking charges in connection with the arrest. (PHOTO COURTESY OF RCMP)

Police seized one pound of marijuana and $8,000 in cash after searching a residence in Iqaluit Aug. 4 (PHOTO COURTESY OF RCMP)

(Updated 5:05 p.m., Aug. 5)

A woman faces drug trafficking charges after allegedly being caught with ecstasy and methamphetamine in Iqaluit, while another man faces charges of trafficking in marijuana after a police search at an Iqaluit residence.

The woman was arrested outside the Storehouse Bar and Grill Aug. 3 after police received a complaint that a someone was selling drugs there.

When she was taken to RCMP cells, police found 19 pills of ecstasy and 19 pills of methamphetamine. Police then searched House 1430 and seized a small amount of marijuana.

RCMP in Nunavut have long feared the impacts of methamphetamine in Iqaluit, although Cst. Angelique Dignard said police rarely come across the drug.

“It [the Aug. 3 bust] worries me but not in an alarming way,” she said. “We know these drugs are here.”

Dignard said ecstasy is just as worrisome for police, because the pills can sometimes contain small amounts of meth.

“[Youth] don’t know how dangerous those pills are,” she said.

Marie-Eve Harvey, 34, was charged with possession of methamphetamine and ecstasy for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of marijuana. She was released on the condition that she stay away from bars, give up her cell phone and remain in Iqaluit.

She’s scheduled to appear in the Nunavut Court of Justice Oct. 3.

In a separate case, police arrested a man Aug. 4 after a search of an Iqaluit residence turned up a pound of marijuana, $8,000 in cash, a digital scale, a cell phone and trafficking paraphernalia.

The man, who police did not name in their news release, is charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime.

He is to appear in court in Iqaluit Oct. 3.

In another case, on Aug. 5, police made a small seizure of liquor and cocaine after searching someone’s luggage after the arrival of a flight from Ottawa.

In the search, police found six bottles of illegal liquor and three grams of cocaine.

Diane Negebauer, 51, is charged with possession of cocaine and unlawful possession of liquor. She was released from custody and is to appear in court Oct. 3 in Iqaluit.