Whitehorse Daily Star

Police busy on drug busts front

The Yukon RCMP have been involved in a series of drug busts in the last 11 days, though investigators say none of them appear to be related.

By Ashley Joannou on May 1, 2013

The Yukon RCMP have been involved in a series of drug busts in the last 11 days, though investigators say none of them appear to be related.

Early Monday morning, Whitehorse RCMP members were called to a downtown hotel to assist in removing an unwanted male.

Upon entering the location, police saw a male and several items associated with drug use, including what appeared to be crack cocaine, the police said in a press release issued Tuesday.

A search warrant was subsequently executed and an extensive search of the room was completed.

Police seized a quantity of marijuana, crack cocaine, money and drug trafficking paraphernalia.

Two men have been arrested and face charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking and related charges.

Thong Vo, 42, and Minh Tung Dang, 54, both of Whitehorse, made their first court appearance in territorial court Monday afternoon.

Two days earlier, a Whitehorse RCMP officer was conducting a patrol near the same hotel.

He observed someone in a vehicle participating in what he believed was a hand-to-hand drug transaction.

The officer approached the vehicle and the female driver rolled down the window to speak with the officer.

The driver exhibited signs of drug impairment, and the officer noted drug paraphernalia in plain view.

A search of the vehicle resulted in the finding of a quantity of crack cocaine and related drug items.

Eileen Lavallee-Miyahama, 38, of Whitehorse, has been charged with trafficking.

On the evening of April 20, a Whitehorse RCMP officer was on patrol near a downtown business.

The officer observed a male reach into his pockets and toss items to the ground.

The officer immediately retrieved the items, which turned out to be a cell phone and a quantity of crack cocaine.

Jonathan Macleod, 34, of Whitehorse, has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

He has also been charged under the Criminal Code for breaching court conditions previously imposed on him.

Comments (19)

Up 0 Down 0

Arn Anderson on May 9, 2013 at 10:23 am

Judging how you are asking that question to me seems you do not what know what year it is. Please get out more often.

Up 0 Down 0

flyingfur on May 9, 2013 at 6:39 am

Rorex: Evidence for a trafficking charge has to be built on more than quantity and I suspect that there was adequate evidence (paraphenalia like cash, baggies, a scale, cash, ledger) to support the charge and go for the conviction.

Arn: You do realize it is 2013 not 1813 right?

Up 0 Down 0

mike madder on May 9, 2013 at 4:54 am

These little busts here and there are a direct result of a drug dealing informant that is allowed to do his deed as he sees fit as long as he ups the odd drug bust. Pay attention people they don't want to stop the drugs they want to control it

Up 0 Down 0

Arn Anderson on May 9, 2013 at 4:15 am

CabComms its because I don't fit your image of humanity you have to use the "troll" statement. That's your problem, deal with it and don't cry while commenting. Show me this right and wrong book please, I would love to read the CabComms final version of right and wrong!

Up 0 Down 0

Rorex21 on May 9, 2013 at 2:03 am

flyingfur: Just because there is a law doesn't mean it's just. Quite honestly in the news story above there is no real indication that these people are really dealers. They are being charged with dealing because of the quantity. A quantity which could for all we know be for personal use. Either way most dealers are drug users. Chronic drug use is a medical problem and is not solved but putting people in jail.

You can live your life by the letter of the law if you want to but most people have a moral code that supercede man's laws.

Up 0 Down 0

Arn Anderson on May 9, 2013 at 1:38 am

Sorry fur, I don't have that hopeless attitude and I had more success doing things myself than waiting for some quota catching officer to help me. The more laws Canada makes on it's own people, the trust between the people and government grow wider and wider.

Up 0 Down 0

CabComms on May 8, 2013 at 9:48 am

Arn, you are not right about much, but that's no one's problem but yours.

Everyone else: please, do not feed the trolls. They are always hungry

Up 0 Down 0

flyingfur on May 8, 2013 at 5:19 am

Arn: A bit of news for you but you don't get to decide whether or not you want to accept the laws of Canada, and that includes "taking the law into your own hands". You can LOL all you want but that's the jist of it.

Up 0 Down 0

Arn Anderson on May 7, 2013 at 6:05 pm

Nope, I take the law into my own hands, so I have zero stake in the system, keep it, thanks but no thanks. The streets actually have become more worse thanks to arresting these people, now the gangs have to recruit more kids to fill the role, could be yours....or me? Lol

Up 0 Down 0

Ukahn on May 7, 2013 at 2:30 pm

The problem is that the police aren't the right people to be trying to fix the drug issue. It is not a criminal problem - it is a social problem. If you can honestly argue that the mind of someone on drugs would be deterred by the consequences of doing drugs, then clearly you must be on drugs.

Up 0 Down 0

bobby bitman on May 7, 2013 at 9:07 am

I would like to know the residential history of Vo, Dang, Miyahama and Macleod to know whether they moved here recently to work in a restaurant, or whether they are life long Yukoners or what the story is. Seems like a number of people come here from other places for no reason but to get rich off selling hard drugs to the locals.

I am glad the police took their observations seriously, investigated and charged these people and I hope the courts also take it seriously and give them huge sentences. Marijuana should be legalized and sold at the liquor store, and the tax money and savings should be applied full force to shut down the crack, meth, date rape drug dealers. Throw the book at them.

Up 0 Down 0

Gina Davis on May 6, 2013 at 10:30 am

You can't stop them all. Take 1 away 10 more out on full force!!!!!!!!!!lmfao

Up 0 Down 0

flyingfur on May 6, 2013 at 8:25 am

Arn: Interesting approach. However if this is where you live and your safety and well-being is impacted by how well we enforce our laws, or the frequency with which we convict criminals then I'm going to suggest that you do have a stake in it. Are the streets safer because of this? I think 4 individuals charged with trafficking is a positive thing and that yes Arn...the streets are a little bit safer because of it.

Mark: So what advice or suggestions do you have for all of us mindless idiots that lean on the law to punish and deter dealers?

Up 0 Down 0

Arn Anderson on May 5, 2013 at 11:11 am

Thank you, I like my little world, it involves the whole universe/universes that fits real laws, and evolving laws, but not phony human laws, keep it, I don't need it and guess what, yup, you guessed it, I have no stake in it.

Up 0 Down 0

Mark Ackerman on May 4, 2013 at 2:39 am

Old people with old laws! LOL! If you think the laws will or can stop the illegal drug trade you are mindless idiots! Any day, any week, anytime I could go out and buy as much drugs as anyone wanted to buy.

Up 0 Down 0

Donald Donaldson on May 3, 2013 at 9:42 am

Thanks Arn. You confirmed what I already thought. Nothing will change in your little world if you don't....so suck it up or stand up to help improve our community. I am.

Up 0 Down 0

Arn Anderson on May 3, 2013 at 3:59 am

I have no stake in it and I don't care about the outcome. I like stones because they have an certain aura to them. If you wanna say shut up then, thats your problem, your charter of rights says I have the freedom to free speech and I'm gonna use it regardless of being obedient to a failed system.

Up 0 Down 0

Donald Donaldson on May 2, 2013 at 4:42 am

What are you doing to help Arn? All you do is critize any and all efforts. Police can't do it all. Step up and help rather than cast stones.

Up 0 Down 0

Arn Anderson on May 1, 2013 at 2:45 pm

Are the streets safer? pfff no

Add your comments or reply via Twitter @whitehorsestar

In order to encourage thoughtful and responsible discussion, website comments will not be visible until a moderator approves them. Please add comments judiciously and refrain from maligning any individual or institution. Read about our user comment and privacy policies.

Your name and email address are required before your comment is posted. Otherwise, your comment will not be posted.