Nunavik police open up about recent drug-related arrests

Members of the Kativik Regional Police Force, including police chief Aileen MacKinnon, talk May 30 to the Kativik Regional Government council meeting in Puvirnituq, where police urged people in Nunavik to continue to provide tips about illegal activities in the region. (PHOTO BY JANE GEORGE)

PUVIRNITUQ —The day after the Kativik Regional Police Force told a Kativik Regional Government councillors meeting in Puvirnituq about its fight against the importation of drugs into Nunavik, police released more information about people recently arrested by police on drug-related charges.

Members of KRPF arrested a man May 18 in Kuujjuaq following their investigation of tips received from the public, a KRPF and KRG news release said May 31.

Police say a man attempted to extort money from two people in Kuujjuaq “by making threats to cause bodily harm to them and their families,” the news release said.

Malik Lisabe Jean, now held in remand, face two counts of extortion and breach of probation, and will appear in court June 11 in Kuujjuaq.

In another arrest, the Nunavik Investigation Unit — comprised of members from Sûreté du Québec provincial police force and KRPF — charged a man travelling to Kuujjuaq with drugs inside his body.

Police the detained the man at the Kuujjuaq airport. Using an x-ray machine, police spotted “a foreign substance” — marijuana and some prescription pills— inside his body.

Sylvain Audette was charged with trafficking in a controlled substance and multiple breaches of probation. He will remain in custody until his next court appearance in Kuujjuaq June 11.

In Kuujjuaraapik, members of Nunavik Investigation Unit executed a search warrant May 23 that led to the seizure of “a considerable amount” of marijuana, a news release from the unit said May 31.

George Weetaltuk faces charges of trafficking in a controlled substance and possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

Weetaltuk will remain in custody until his next court appearance, scheduled for June 4 in Kuujjuaraapik.

Nunavimmiut with tips about drug-related activity may call the KRPF’s detective investigator, Alex Moring, at (819) 964-2488, the KRPF said.

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