A man arrested by Inuvik RCMP as part of a drug trafficking investigation in 2023 has been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.
Police arrested and charged three people, including Harbi Ali, in June 2023 after officers said they had seized drugs, an unsecured firearm and cash during a search of an apartment complex in Inuvik.
According to an agreed statement of facts in Ali’s case, on June 6 that year, RCMP searched a unit at the Bompas Place apartments – home to two other people – as well as Ali’s hotel room in Inuvik.
Officers found Ali leaving the apartment’s bedroom and arrested him.
Police seized six grams of crack cocaine, two digital scales and cell phones from the apartment as well as two cell phones and $1,120 in cash from Ali.
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Police also seized $10,082 in cash and a digital scale from the hotel room.
RCMP analysis of a phone belonging to Ali found text messages consistent with drug trafficking. A police search of the three people’s bank records showed patterns also deemed related to trafficking.
Ali pleaded guilty to possessing the proceeds of crime over $5,000 and possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
The Crown dropped additional charges of possessing a firearm while prohibited, improper storage of a firearm and failing to comply with an undertaking.
In NWT Supreme Court on Tuesday, Justice Shannon Smallwood sentenced Ali to two years’ imprisonment, as jointly recommended by the Crown and defence lawyers. Once released from jail, Ali will be prohibited from possessing firearms for 10 years.
All charges against the man and woman – which included unlawful possession of a firearm, improper storage of a firearm, and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking – were stayed in April 2024.
