Two-hundred and 43 grams of crack cocaine was seized by Nunavik Police Service after officers carried out three search warrants in Kuujjuaq residences in January. (Photo courtesy of Nunavik Police Service)

Nunavik police seize $73,000 worth of cocaine in drug bust

Three charged with possession and trafficking of cocaine, 5 others receive summonses to attend court

By Cedric Gallant - Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Nunavik police have charged three people after carrying out three drug-related search warrants in Kuujjuaq.

The arrests were announced Jan. 24 in a news release from Nunavik Police Service.

Investigators from the Nunavik Integrated Investigation Team, a specialized team for drug and alcohol seizures, executed the search warrants between Jan. 6 and Jan. 13, the release said.

Officers confiscated 243 grams of crack cocaine valued at just under $73,000, according the police service’s latest black market valuation; cellphones allegedly used for drug trafficking; money; and equipment believed to be used for drug processing and sale.

The release said a total of 16 people were detained during those warrants. Apart from the three charged, five others have not been charged but face a summons to return to court. The final eight people were released.

“Their implication in this file is lesser,” said Patrice Abel, captain of investigations for Nunavik police in a French phone interview.

He said the Canada Post strike, which lasted from Nov. 15 to Dec. 17, forced Montreal-based drug dealers to adapt.

Statistics from January to October 2024 show that around 440 grams of cocaine were seized, with 373 grams intercepted from the mail. But after the strike began, drug traffickers began targeting travellers through the Montreal airport to use as mules. Several of the people who were released were mules, and “had no criminal history.”

Those who are in custody are charged with possession with intent to traffic and trafficking.

“At the moment, there is a huge influx of hard drugs coming into Nunavik and the turntable is Kuujjuaq,” Abel said, adding the goal is to be vigilant down south by working closely with partners in Montreal and to intercept drugs that come in through the Kuujjuaq airport.

“We have a better strike force here in Kuujjuaq, but we are aware that some of it slips,” he said.

The police are planning on carrying out more operations this year in multiple communities, with the biggest ones being in Kuujjuaq.

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(3) Comments:

  1. Posted by Nunavimiuk on

    Good job for the police, but at $300 a gram here in kuujjuaq , these people are going to keep comming .

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  2. Posted by TGC on

    How do we get past a dependency, to improve our community? Talking about hard drug use (meth, cocaine, speed) more openly publicly is a step forward. Parents sharing hard drugs with their adult children, and in the presence of younger children it is a bad, that perpetuates intergenerational trauma. We have services provided that can be found, for those who ask. The Kuujjuaq Isuarsavik Centre is one of those places.

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