Six charged after suburban drug busts

Whitehorse RCMP have seized between $30,000 and $35,000 worth of drugs after they executed search warrants on two local residences earlier this week.

By Elizabeth Hames on July 16, 2010

Whitehorse RCMP have seized between $30,000 and $35,000 worth of drugs after they executed search warrants on two local residences earlier this week.

On Tuesday, two men were arrested on the streets of downtown Whitehorse for possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

Police subsequently obtained search warrants for two residences located in Copper Ridge and Riverdale.

Approximately $15,000 in cash and more than 14 pounds of marijuana were seized.

The RCMP's "M” Division Drug Section, the Federal Enforcement Unit, "M” Division Police Dog Services and "M” Division Traffic Services all assisted in the search.

Six people have been charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.

Those charged are Yi Ming Liu, 52; Guo Hua Qiu, 50; William Lee Huebshwerlen, 47; Kaitai Kevin Qiu, 18; Frank Yat Fan Tse, 52; and Eric Chun-Kit Tai, 30.

Frank Tse and Eric Tai each face an additional charge of the possession of property obtained by a crime.

All of the charged individuals appeared in court on Wednesday and were released on a recognizance.

Five of the six will appear in court again Aug. 11, but Tse was remanded in custody pending a subsequent court appearance.

"The RCMP is committed to making all of our communities safe from illegal drugs and ensuring that we provide a proactive quality policing service to all citizens of the Yukon,” Sgt. Don Rogers, the RCMP spokesperson, said Thursday.

Police encourage the public to report any crime or suspicious activity either directly to police or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Comments (7)

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Anonymous on Jul 19, 2010 at 11:56 pm

Again with a pot bust,maybe get the coke, crack and other terrible s..t off the street and I'd be a bit more impressed. I don't support organized crime but pot is hardly a danger to society today. Gateway drug my a...

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bobby bitman on Jul 19, 2010 at 9:15 am

By the way, if this was bagged bud they confiscated, as opposed to growing plants, it is actually worth $300 an ounce on the street.

$300 x 14 lb x 16 oz = $67,200

So this bust may have actually been a lot bigger than suggested in the article. However, if it were just plants, a lot smaller than suggested in monetary value.

bobby bitman on Jul 19, 2010 at 9:11 am

Here's a quote straight from a Marijuana Grower's Forum regarding Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's upcoming plebisite in California, in November 2010, where the citizens of California will vote whether to regulate and tax marijuana rather than leaving the production, distribution and profits to, mainly, criminal organizations. I think you may be interested to know who actually wants pot to remain illegal. Here is the cut and paste from the forum, where one guy is responding to the calls from growers to prevent legalization:

"right now im seeing alot of opposition from people who are using the law to grow for profit. people who want to keep the current prohibition around so they can continue to play pirates and get fat off inflated prices.

if it were legal and there were commercial grow opportunities, they would be at the behest of the city or county, there would be committees and boards set up to regulate how many/ how big. i hear people saying dont legalize it, its going to cut into my profits as a grower, well to them i say tough."

What is going on in Whitehorse with Chinese nationals coming up here to run drug rings is emblematic of the problem of leaving ridiculous profits in the hands of criminal organizations.

Legalize small grows and tokers will grow their own or perhaps buy it from their friend who is growing. Or they will buy at the liquor store and the society will make some money too, just like we do off alcohol! Stop leaving the profits to criminals.

Jack Malone on Jul 19, 2010 at 7:50 am

Let's deport Bill Huebshwerlen - I can only wish.

Don McKenzie on Jul 17, 2010 at 8:05 am

Any of these guys eligible for deportation in this lot?

Thomas Brewer on Jul 16, 2010 at 8:43 am

Time to deport these criminals, before organised crime gets any more organised here.

bobby bitman on Jul 16, 2010 at 8:24 am

Big groan on the 'keeping us safe' from pot. I'll leave that for the moment though.

My big question is, where these people here in the Yukon to work in certain local restaurants? ... hmmmm? Just asking.

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