14 arrested, 1,000 fentanyl pills seized in multiple searches in Yellowknife area

Police have arrested 14 people and seized firearms, diamonds, cash, marijuana and approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills after several seizures last night in Yellowknife, Ndilo and Dettah.

Early Monday, police arrested a man from British Columbia en route to Yellowknife during a traffic stop near Fort Providence. In a news release, RCMP say search warrants were then executed at six separate locations.

RCMP seized 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, several kilograms of marijuana, a substance believed to be heroin, as well as the fentanyl pills. They also found a large amount of cash, diamonds and "high-end merchandise suspected to be profits from the sale of illegal drugs."

RCMP say the police operation, which involved more than 30 officers, was part of a lengthy investigation targeting the trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit drugs in Yellowknife and surrounding communities.

Police say charges will be laid against several individuals later today.