Two out-of-territory men face drugs and weapons charges after the RCMP conducted a highly visible arrest operation on Friday afternoon in downtown Whitehorse.

The operation involved the Yukon RCMP Crime Reduction Unit (CRU), with the assistance of the Whitehorse detachment and members of Yukon RCMP’s Critical Incident Program. They were assisted by both the G Division and E Division Emergency Response Teams.

The officers executed a search warrant under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act at 15-505 Black St. near Sixth Avenue.

Gas was used to help contain the dwelling’s occupants, and traffic was diverted from the area during the activity.

Quinten Layne Jackson, 27, of Vernon, B.C., and Abshir Ahmed Nur, 43, of Edmonton, have been charged with several drug trafficking and firearms-related offences.

They are:

possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking;
possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking;
possession of Alproazolam for the purpose of trafficking;
possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000;
possession of a loaded restricted firearm without authorization;
possession of a prohibited device;
possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose;
the unsafe storage of a
loaded handgun;
possession of a firearm while prohibited; and
possession of ammunition while prohibited.

Nur faces an additional count of the possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000.

During the execution of the search warrant, these items were seized:

approximately $22,000 Canadian currency;

a large quantity of what’s believed to be cocaine;
several grams of what’s believed to be fentanyl;
a large quantity of Alprazolam pills (Xanax);
a loaded .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun;
a prohibited high capacity pistol magazine;
a large quantity of various rifle and pistol ammunition;
cell phones; and scale and packaging materials.

As well, an associated vehicle, a Toyota Tacoma, has been seized and is subject to further investigation.

Jackson and Nur appeared in territorial court on Saturday morning and were remanded into custody.

Jackson’s next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

Nur was scheduled to appear in court early this afternoon.

“Public safety and the sense of community well-being is at risk when illicit drugs and illegal firearms are sold and possessed by those involved in organized crime in any Yukon community, including downtown Whitehorse,” said Supt. Lindsay Ellis, the criminal operations officer for the Yukon RCMP.

“This investigation is but one example of the ongoing work undertaken by detachments and the Crime Reduction Unit of the Yukon RCMP to reduce serious crime such as drug trafficking and illegal firearms offences in order to support the safety of Yukoners,” Ellis added.