The Eeyou Eenou Police Force (EEPF) has upped the ante in its crackdown on drugs and alcohol in Eeyou Istchee. In the past few months, the number of busts of suppliers in the region has dramatically increased.
Police Director Reggie Bobbish reported on November 6 the successful execution of a series of warrants issued during the past few months. Bobbish reaffirmed the EEPF’s commitment to the welfare and safety of the Cree Nation. Stopping drug and alcohol traffickers is the first step in ridding the Cree community of illegal substance abuse.
The most recent bust occurred on Nov. 1, when the EEPF followed through with two search warrants by conducting an early morning raid in Wemindji. The raid netted them five suspects and 137 grams of cocaine with a street value of $20,000.
Prior to that, on Oct. 24, the EEPF arrested six people who were suspected of drugs trafficking in Whapmagoostui in another multi-pronged early morning bust. During the raid they managed to seize a substantial amount of illegal substances as well as firearms from four locations.
Earlier in October, the EEPF conducted two busts in Chisasibi. On Oct. 12, there was a warrant involving the illegal sale and distribution of alcohol as well as other offences. In these raids, officers seized one five-litre keg, 20 cans of beer and nine bottles of liquor.
On Oct. 8, they busted an individual for suspected drug trafficking at his residence, and seized around 20 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Earlier in July, the police force had made a bust in Chisasibi, where they caught a female suspect who had 28 grams of marijuana for the purpose of selling it.
In late September, the EEPF executed two search warrants in Eastmain. From the bust, they netted three suspected traffickers, 56 grams of marijuana with a street value of over $2,000, and a small amount of cocaine. An additional 13 firearms were seized from the residences due to them not being properly stored.
The names of the individuals who have been arrested during these operations will only be available after they have been sentenced in court.
The EEPF is proud of these successes in busting drug traffickers in the past six months. The EEPF has stated that its commitment to the safety of the Cree Nation is stronger than ever and these busts are a result of the hard work of the EEPF.
