Yellowknife man gets 30 months for his part in 'dial-a-dope' drug network

Another street-level trafficker associated with a sophisticated Yellowknife drug network has been sentenced to jail time.

Ajantham Mahalingam, 23, was sentenced to 30 months in jail lastFriday.

Mahalingam was arrested in April 2016 as part of "Operation Green Manalishi," an RCMP investigation that culminated in one of the largest seizures of illicit drugs, guns and cash in the territory in a decade.

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At the time, Mahalingam was charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, possession of proceeds of crime exceeding $5,000 and possession of cocaine.

While Judge Christine Gagnon admits Mahalingam wasn't "one of the directing minds of the group,"she says he still played a significant role within the network.

Dealing crack 24/7

According to an agreed statement of facts, Mahalingam sold crack cocaine in Yellowknife using a "dial-a-dope" phone. Heand three others monitored the phone 24 hours a day so that distribution went uninterrupted.

Court documents indicate Mahalingam would either buy or be fronted an ounce of crack which would then be sold in smaller portions.

It's believed he was selling upwards of two ounces per week. According to court documents this meant an "estimated weekly margin of profit" of up to$6,400.

RCMPdescribed the network as a 24-hour trafficking operation that used taxis, street level drug traffickers and stash locations.

Connected with a 'negative peer group'

Mahalingam is originally from Toronto but moved to Yellowknife over three years ago to earn money for an electrical program he planned on taking in Scarborough, Ont.

It was around that time he says he connected with a "negative peer group."

Prosecutors believe Yellowknife's Todd Dube was at the helm of the drug network and that all crack cocaine initially made its way through him.

Mahalingam is at least the fifth person involved in the drug ring to be sentenced to jail time.

Todd Dube's older sister Brittany and another associate were sentenced to five years in prison last month.

JudgeGagnonconsidered a number of mitigating factors in delivering her sentence, includingMahalingam'sguilty plea in this case, and a single entry on his criminal record.

But that single conviction was related, andGagnonsaid the damaging effects illicit drugs have in Northern communities can't be ignored.

She sentenced him to 30 months of jail time. Considering time already served,Mahalingamwill serve another 21 months and will also be subject to a DNA order and a 10-year firearms ban.