Photo by Whitehorse Star
RCMP seize variety of drugs; charges lodged against trio
Two recent RCMP investigations in Whitehorse have disrupted the sales of illicit drugs in the city, police said Thursday.
Two recent RCMP investigations in Whitehorse have disrupted the sales of illicit drugs in the city, police said Thursday.
Over a 24-hour period in early March, three people were arrested and a significant amount of crack cocaine and fentanyl were seized by officers.
“On March 3 the Crime Reduction Unit stopped a vehicle after observing a drug transaction taking place,” police said.
“Two male occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody without incident.”
During the search, the first male was found to be in possession of 10.5 grams of crack cocaine, packaged individually; a large sum of cash; multiple cell phones; and a fixed-blade hunting knife.
A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of additional items that supported charges of trafficking, police said.
Two people have each been charged with:
• Trafficking in a controlled substance (cocaine);
• Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine); and
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.
Midhun Kalpak Madhu, 31, of Whitehorse, had a first court appearance last Friday and was released, on conditions, pending future court dates.
The second person is a youth whose name cannot be published.
As well, last Friday, Whitehorse RCMP general duty officers responded to a call of a suspicious vehicle in Riverdale.
“Upon locating the vehicle and occupant, the investigating officers saw items in plain view that supported an investigation and an arrest related to possession of a controlled substance,” police said.
A search yielded more items, including individually wrapped packages of substances believed to be fentanyl, several grams of a substance that tested positive as cocaine, a large sum of cash, scales, and clear baggies.
Chase Keobke, 31, of Whitehorse, has been charged with:
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (fentanyl);
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine);
• Possession of a substance prohibited uner the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act; and
• Possession of property obtained by crime.
Keobke had a first court appearance last Friday and was released pending future court dates.
“These investigations show the significant work being done by police officers to support safe and healthy communities in the Yukon,” said Insp. Lindsay Ellis, the Whitehorse RCMP detachment commander.
“Our goal is to target those who supply and traffic in the dangerous drugs negatively impacting our communities.”
Resources are available throughout the Yukon for those struggling with substance use, police noted.
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Comments (19)
Up 1 Down 0
Vee ger on Mar 21, 2022 at 8:51 pm
How many unfiltered Organizations or Businesses live in the NORTH now... ??? Anyone ... #
Up 3 Down 0
Guncache on Mar 16, 2022 at 5:12 pm
Premier cabs is still roaming around town as of today Wednesday. The driver wasn't wearing a ball cap.
Up 18 Down 6
marylaker on Mar 15, 2022 at 11:45 am
I just talked to a friend about this article. He said, "Oh ya. I always heard if you want to get drugs in Whitehorse, ask a cab driver."
A Tagish FN woman is in a jail cell in Turkey right now, been there for over 4 years, because one of Whitehorse's cab drivers bought her a ticket to be a drug mule for khat - a stimulant that is popular in North Africa but almost unknown in the Yukon. As far as I know, NOTHING HAPPENED to that cab driver even though the authorities know he bought her the ticket.
I am extremely angry about what is going on in our town with well known businesses being hubs of drug crimes and nothing being done about it!! Where is our "Justice Minister" and Premiere?? Too much campaign money to be lost or what?!
APTN News 2021: "A Tagish woman is seeking to serve the rest of her Turkish prison sentence for drug trafficking at home in Canada.
“I have a (mucous) retention cyst in my brain,” she said in a halting voice, “that could be fatal.”
She has a myriad of problems with respect to health and the justice system,” he said. “What we’re trying to do is to get her home.”
OUR POLITICIANS ARE NOT DOING THEIR JOBS!!
Smith, who said she was an unknowing drug mule, was sentenced to nine years and two months in 2016 for trafficking khat.
She said she was unaware the stimulant was in her suitcase when she transferred planes in Turkey from Kenya on her way to Canada."
Up 32 Down 3
Bandit on Mar 14, 2022 at 8:38 pm
If "Midhun Kalpak Madhu" is not a Permanent Resident or a Canadian Citizen of
this Country and is found "Guilty" Deportation is the only punishment, and I could quote a bunch of other names that are too often in the News but you were given a "Gift" to enter Canada for a better life and hope only to resort to what you ran away from. Time to get "Tough on Criminals, look around the world and see what happens if you would get caught being a criminal never mind if you get caught Dealing Drugs. I will chip in for the plane fare.
Up 1 Down 0
bonanzajoe on Mar 14, 2022 at 5:44 pm
Bobby Bitman. You may not remember this, but I remember when Al Capone thought it was a great idea not to pay taxes.
Up 8 Down 8
Liberty and Justice for All on Mar 14, 2022 at 2:23 pm
Thank you Midhun Kalpak Madhu 31, of Whitehorse, you are a real chance for this country.
Up 34 Down 0
Tierra donald on Mar 14, 2022 at 12:52 pm
Midhun Kalpak Madhu the owner of premier Cabs, so careless and rude. I called the cab company couple of times and he picked me up, he was so busy texting and driving, I guess now I know why he was that busy, he was probably making ''transactions'' through the phone!!
Up 27 Down 1
Mikef‘nHall on Mar 14, 2022 at 10:08 am
When I was young i got 1 month in old wcc for every GRAM of weed i got caught with and got no bail.
Up 20 Down 2
bonanzajoe on Mar 13, 2022 at 8:22 pm
Groucho d'North "Let's watch and see what the follow-through will be". I think we pretty well seen it.
Up 9 Down 14
Gladue Factors in Real Time on Mar 13, 2022 at 6:33 pm
If you want to learn more about the inter generational impacts of discrimination and raced-based trauma you might want to read:
R. v. Keobke, 2021 YKSC 4
Retrieved from CanLii at:
https://www.canlii.org/en/yk/yksc/doc/2021/2021yksc4/2021yksc4.html?searchUrlHash=AAAAAQAGS2VvYmtlAAAAAAE&resultIndex=3
Up 48 Down 0
Bobby Bitman on Mar 13, 2022 at 1:32 pm
"Midhun Kalpak, the owner of Premier Cabs in Whitehorse, thinks the bylaw is a good idea." (Criminal background checks - nobody with a serious criminal record, including dealing drugs or possession of stolen goods, should be able to drive a cab or own a cab company) "I do think it's a good thing because you don't want anyone with a bad criminal history driving around a cab picking up passengers. I don't think it is safe." - CBC article July 27, 2017.
"Midhun Kalpak Madhu 31, of Whitehorse: Trafficking in a controlled substance (cocaine); Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine); and Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000."
- Whitehorse Star, March 11, 2022.
Up 69 Down 1
My Opinion on Mar 12, 2022 at 11:11 pm
Giving poison to people should be attempted murder. Why are these guys walking.? This is a legal system not a justice system.
Up 32 Down 0
Midhun - Owner of Premier Cabs on Mar 12, 2022 at 1:36 pm
In case you were wondering about the other name. The article he is featured in here is pure irony;
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/bylaw-criminal-record-check-whitehorse-taxi-1.4223463
Up 41 Down 0
Any relation to Sheldon on Mar 12, 2022 at 1:32 pm
Curious. Same last name, same kind of drug dealing p.o.s. - Article is 4 years old now.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/whitehorse-keobke-arrest-seizure-drugs-1.4788500
Up 71 Down 6
Groucho d'North on Mar 12, 2022 at 9:01 am
I am viewing this case as a measure to where and how our legal industry fails in dealing with these dangerous law breakers. The Mounties have done their job, now we wait and watch as the court system is expected to do their jobs. God knows there has been plenty of ink printed talking about how devestating these street drugs are and their impact on Yukon people. Let's watch and see what the follow-through will be,
Up 65 Down 8
Bandit on Mar 12, 2022 at 7:22 am
I would like to Thank/Apologize to the RCMP, first a big Thank you for the work you do, secondly I would like to Apologize for the (in)Justice System, they must have taken a page from the Fishing Regulations for High Quality Waters... It is all "Catch and Release"
Up 44 Down 39
Dallas on Mar 11, 2022 at 4:26 pm
Lived in the territory for 32 years and that dude is a recent immigrant I’m guessing….
Up 26 Down 24
Wilf Carter on Mar 11, 2022 at 4:11 pm
RCMP need more space or new building and officers in Whitehorse.
Up 64 Down 6
bonanzajoe on Mar 11, 2022 at 4:01 pm
"These investigations show the significant work being done by police officers". Now, how about showing us the significant work being done by the judges. Let's not count on that.