RCMP in Yellowknife have seized a wide range of drugs and more than $200,000 in cash after a six-month investigation.
Police raided a Frame Lake residence and local storage facility on Wednesday.
Two men from British Columbia were arrested during the raid and face a series of charges related to drug trafficking.
The cash was found alongside 593 OxyContin pills, 557 grams of crack cocaine, 180 grams of powder cocaine, 536 grams of marijuana and 1.6 kilos of phenacetin, also known as ‘superbuff’.
A substance believed to be a cocaine cutting agent and two stolen guitars were also found.
Police believe the OxyContin pills contained fentanyl, which was the subject of a public health warning earlier this year.
Read: Rise of street fentanyl prompts warning in Yellowknife
“This is a significant seizure that has a large monetary value,” read an RCMP statement.
“More importantly, removing these substances from the community has the potential to save lives.”
The two men in custody are William Nelson Castro, a 23-year-old from Vancouver, and 47-year-old Hassen Abdul Mohamed, from Burnaby. Both are due in court on Monday.
“We are pleased to get this large quantity of dangerous drugs, and the illicit profits derived from this activity, off the streets of Yellowknife,” said Sergeant Dean Riou in a statement.
“We believe this investigation will have a significant impact on the safety of the community.
“Police have noted the continuing trend of people temporarily setting up residence in Yellowknife to sell drugs, and this sends a strong message that these people are not welcome in the community.”
Nor was this the only police raid of the week.
RCMP say a “separate yet parallel” investigation, also in the Frame Lake area, uncovered more than $19,000 in cash alongside 40.7 grams of marijuana, 27 Percocet pills, and cocaine residue.
Three people, all Yellowknife residents, have been arrested and charged in relation to the second raid: 19-year-old Todd Dub, 21-year-old Husam Ali, and Ajanthan Mahalingham, also 21.
