Former city councillor faces multiple liquor charges after police seize 466 cases of beer

Stuart Kennedy, a prominent Iqaluit business owner and former city councillor, has been charged under the Nunavut Liquor Act after RCMP seized 466 cases of beer from a city warehouse Oct. 29.

Kennedy, who owns D.J. Sensations and D.J. Specialties, and who served on city council between 2000 and 2005, told Nunatsiaq News that "the beer was owned by several people."

He declined to make any further comment.

Kennedy will appear in court Jan. 5 on charges of illegal possession of liquor, keeping liquor for sale, and unlawfully selling or offering to sell liquor.

"To us, it doesn't matter who it is," said RCMP Cpl. Tom Cooke in an interview. The police are required to "treat everybody the same, whether they are unemployed or a well-established businessman," Cooke said.

RCMP said the estimated street value of the seized beer is about $56,000.

The cases, popularly known as "two-fours" because each box contains 24 cans of beer, would sell on the street for between $100 and $150 each, said Cooke.

He said the beer was brought into the community on the sealift.

This was the largest seizure in a busy month for the Iqaluit RCMP.

On Oct. 19, police confiscated 62 bottles of vodka and more than $1,200 in cash from an Iqaluit residence. The street value of the vodka is estimated at about $7,400.

The liquor was ordered legally from down south with a permit, and brought into the community in small amounts "on a weekly basis," said Cooke.

"Anybody can order liquor from down south," he said. "What is against the law is to sell it without a licence."

Iqaluit residents Sylvain Bouchard and Maggie Audlakiak have been charged with unlawfully selling liquor under the Nunavut Liquor Act. Their court date is set for Nov. 21.

Earlier in October, Iqaluit RCMP netted a few smaller fish when they charged eight city residents with street-level drug trafficking and bootlegging liquor.

The charges include both possession and trafficking of less than 30 grams of marijuana, trafficking ecstasy, and illegally selling liquor.

All three operations were based on search warrants. To obtain search warrants police need specific insider information, often obtained by tips from the community, Staff-Sgt. Kim Melenchuk said.

Police ask anyone with information related to criminal activity to call the Iqaluit RCMP detachment at 979-0123, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Callers may remain anonymous, Melenchuk said.

Bootlegging and drug trafficking in Nunavut is unique compared to other provinces, said Cpl. Trevor Allen, who runs the Nunavut drug unit.

He said it's "almost like a free market," with many independent operators.

In southern centres, Allen said, the illegal drug and bootleg trade is usually controlled by organized crime, and independent operators are not allowed.

But isolated, fly-in situations and small populations in Nunavut communities mean drugs and illegal alcohol are often brought into communities in small quantities and sold on the streets by individuals.

Allen said marijuana is the most prevalent and widespread illegal drug in Iqaluit.

Alcohol abuse is "like an epidemic here," he added. It "fuels a lot of the violence and the more serious crimes," shows up in almost all police investigations, and "is a common thread in domestic violence" incidents.

Although he has seen attempts to introduce crack-cocaine into the community, Allen has found little evidence of heroin or methamphetamine use.

The following people have been charged with trafficking marijuana, under 30 grams, in connection with last month's seizures: Soudloo Kilabuk, 29; Jordan Aariak, 26; Andrew Papatsie, 24; and Ivan Joamie, 20.

Kilabuk is also charged with possession of marijuana, under 30 grams, and breach of probation.

Randy Hopkins, 38, Jeffrey Lem, 45, and Jamesie "Jay" Peter, 24, are all charged with illegally selling liquor, and Stephane Chudzia is charged with trafficking in ecstasy.

Those charged with drug offences are to appear in the Nunavut Court of Justice on Dec. 1. The liquor offences will be heard Dec. 5.