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.

Yukon’s RCMP is doing a great job of arresting these folks and confiscating their stashes, but the courts continue to release these repeat offenders what a slap on the wrist, ‘don’t do it again’ and ‘see you in two weeks for your court date.’

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.