The Yukon territory claims a population of 41,352 in 2020. Of those, 32,304 (almost 80%) live in Whitehorse, the territory’s capital, and its surrounding area. (See Yukon Fact Sheet 2020)
The Yukon territory’s median age is 39 and, despite a higher than average Canadian weekly income, Whitehorse has an ongoing and serious addiction problem fuelled primarily by out-of-Yukon drug dealers and a justice system that insists on playing ‘catch and release‘ with repeat offenders.
Yukon RCMP reports the following arrests for January 2021:
On January 29, Shonal Eshwar, 19, and Colton Simpson-McKenzie, 20, both from B.C., have been charged with:
- possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking;
- possession of heroin for the purpose of trafficking; and
- possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.
Both drug dealers were released on February 1st with conditions, including they were not permitted to be in the Yukon unless they were attending court appearances.
On January 21, Harnaik Bhinder, 33, from B.C., and Shamaury White, 26, from Toronto, were arrested after attempting to flee from police.
- Bhinder was charged with resisting arrest and possessing property obtained by crime worth less than $5,000.
- White was charged with resisting arrest, escaping lawful custody and possessing property obtained by crime, worth less than $5,000.
Both men were ‘released on conditions.’
On January 15, Jahmari Bernard, 22, from B.C. and was charged with cocaine possession for the purpose of trafficking and possessing property obtained by crime under $5,000.
He too was ‘released on conditions.’
On January 6, Yukon RCMP’s Crime Reduction Unit arrested seven people for drug trafficking.
- Adrian Le DIUZET (32) – Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine) and Possess Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000 plus one Warrant executed for Fraud
- Courtney ALFRED (22) – Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine)
- Paul MIDDLETON (35) – Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine) and Resist Arrest
- Havanna PAPEQUASH (21) – Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine) and Resist Arrest
- William ULOTH (55) – 3 Warrants executed (2 unendorsed out of Whitehorse; 1 endorsed out of Dawson)
- Christine DENECHEZHE (20) – Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine)
- The seventh individual cannot be identified under terms of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
On January 5, Patrick Parker, 29, of Whitehorse was arrested in possession of cocaine and fentanyl and was charged with possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking: possessing fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking, and failing to comply with release order conditions.
Oddly, Parker, the local boy, was the only one held in custody until his court appearance.
Whitehorse Residents Speak Out
Not surprisingly, Whitehorse residents are sick of out-of-town drug dealers being regularly arrested and released.
‘My Opinion’ says:
They should have charged them with breaching Quarantine laws. At least they would have received something. How can they be so young, so known to Police and still walking around????? Our system needs an overhaul.
Charles Meyer says:
Nice bunch of Criminals, they would look even better all locked up in Jail in one cell. And none of them is?? And how did they get here anyway? Pandemic and all.
Juniper Jackson sums up the reality faced by Yukon’s higher than average incomes, saying:
So many consumers in the Yukon, the money they make is probably worth the 2 or 3 weeks in jail. As long as there is a buyer, there will be plenty of sellers.
Thankfully for our justice system, serving RCMP members are not permitted to give their personal opinions to the press.
If I were law enforcement in Whitehorse, I’d be furious watching the perp I just arrested walk out the door before I could complete the paperwork on their arrest.
Perhaps this is the legal system — it’s NOT a justice system — telling the politicians the drug laws are the drug problem, to paraphrase Thomas Szas.
IMO no one has the right to tell any adult what they can possess or consume.
Oh dear me, I am quite sure that any other approach would bring the administration of justice into disrepute and we certainly would not want that. What is mere justice and the protection of the public when weighed against judicial opinion of their own actions?
If I remember right there were over 6000 BC’ites who died of drug overdoses in 2020. I believe these drug dealers, especially the ones with Heroin ad Fentenal should be charged with Manslaughter.
That might do some good
the Dr.German report released in BC in 2018 about the casino dirty money/drug /real-estate involvement , from Chinese origins, and no extra resources given to BC RCMP to investigate and fight this scourge, exMinister MP Goodale’s and Rich Coleman MLA-Minister mishandling in large part, this ALL Got lost during the pandemic and should now be revived and be a catalyst to confront the Liberal government here-and-now and remind the voters here in BC and Canada how inept the Liberals are and how they are missing the mark on opioid deaths and income inequality and housing issues.
They need to be thrown out for their incompetence and neglect of the victims. Our youth. this pandemic scare has blinded us and become another tool for the liberals to use against our well being.
The RCMP need to become vocal. They need to serve and protect us. This cannot be forgotten.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/casino-money-laundering-vancouver-german-1.4725260