Behchokǫ̀ RCMP have charged a British Columbia man following the largest cocaine seizure in Northwest Territories history.
On October 26th, around 1:30 p.m., officers from the Behchokǫ̀ detachment stopped a speeding vehicle registered in BC while patrolling Highway 3. During the stop, officers suspected the driver, who was the sole occupant, of drug trafficking and arrested him.
A search of the vehicle revealed six vacuum-sealed packages containing suspected drugs, along with paraphernalia linked to drug trafficking. Five packages were confirmed to hold suspected cocaine weighing about 5.4 kg, while the sixth contained an unidentified substance weighing around 1 kg. Testing will determine the exact nature of the substances.
As a result, 39-year-old Akashdeep Dhillon of British Columbia has been charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking under section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. He was remanded into custody after appearing before a Justice of the Peace and is set to appear in court on November 1st at 1:30 p.m.
The investigation is ongoing with support from the Territorial Crime Reduction Unit. Authorities appreciate public support as they work to combat the harmful effects of the illicit drug trade on Northern communities.
-with files from the RCMP