Police grab alcohol, weed in three weekend seizures

Here’s a look at some of the vodka, tequila and beer which didn’t make it into Pangnirtung — a community that’s officially dry — last weekend. (HANDOUT PHOTO FROM THE RCMP)

Police in Pangnirtung made three contraband seizures this past weekend, thanks to information received from the public.

Acting on a tip, members of the RCMP detachment in Pangnirtung arrested a man who arrived in the community from Iqaluit Sept. 17.

The man was found to be in possession of alcohol, police said in a Sept. 19 news release.

The re-sale value of the alcohol is estimated at around $3,000, police said.

This investigation is into this incident is continuing, and no charges have been laid to date, police said.

Also this past weekend, on Sept. 18, RCMP members, acting on another tip, arrested a man who arrived Iqaluit carrying alcohol and marijuana, with an estimated street re-sale value of $2,500.

Larry Veevee of Pangnirtung has been charged with being Illegally in possession of liquor according to Section 88 of the Liquor Act of Nunavut and possession of marijuana, as called for in section 4(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act.

Pangirtung’s liquor prohibition regulation, adopted in 1990 — and unchanged in a 2009 plebiscite— says “[that] within 25 km of the building in the Hamlet of Pangnirtung commonly known as the Hamlet Office is declared to be a prohibited area; no person shall transport, purchase or possess liquor within the prohibited area described in section and that “a person who violates any provision of these regulations is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 30 days or to both.”

Veevee is scheduled to appear before the Nunavut Court of Justice in Pangnirtung Nov. 8.

Also on Sept. 18, members of the RCMP in Pangnirtung intercepted about 750 grams of marijuana in vacuum-sealed packages with an estimated street value of $37,800.

The investigation is continuing, police said, and no charges have been laid to date.

“The Pangnirtung RCMP would like to express their sincere thanks to the members of the community of Pangnirtung in reporting these activities,” the news release said.

The RCMP also reminded people who want to pass on information about the trafficking of controlled substances or any other crimes can do so anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or by calling their local RCMP detachments.