Two men charged after traffic stop evolves into drug investigation in Yellowknife

Published on June 11, 2026 at 9:05 AM

A routine Yellowknife traffic stop led to a major drug bust involving two Ontario men. 

Officers initially arrested a driver for providing a fake identity, discovering crack-cocaine during a personal search. The investigation expanded to a rented home on McMahon Court, where police executed a search warrant, arrested a second suspect, and seized a stolen American pistol, $22,000 in cash, and 170 grams of crack-cocaine. 

Jahiem Steele, 18, and Marlon Barrett, 33, both face multiple charges under the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act:

  • Drug Trafficking: Possession for the purpose of trafficking.
  • Weapons Charges: Unauthorized possession, unsafe storage, carrying a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and possessing a loaded, prohibited firearm.
  • Stolen Property: Possession of property obtained by crime (relating to the stolen gun). 

Both men were already legally banned from owning weapons and face specific additional charges:

  • Jahiem Steele: Charged with violating a firearms prohibition order, failing to comply with a release order (as he was already out on bail for Ontario drug charges), and breaching a youth sentence.
  • Marlon Barrett: Charged with violating a firearms prohibition order and using a forged document.

Both individuals were held for bail hearings and remain in custody.

-News97.ca with files from Yellowknife RCMP

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