Nine arrested, three charged, in Hay River drug bust

Published: January 27, 2020 at 2:08pm Emelie PeacockJanuary 27, 2020 Last modified: January 27, 2020 at 2:12pm

A file photo of the Hay River RCMP detachment in November 2018. Sarah Pruys/Cabin Radio — The Hay River RCMP detachment. Sarah Pruys/Cabin Radio

Three Edmonton men were arrested and charged with drug-related offences in Hay River last week, RCMP said on Monday.

Police said nine arrests were made in the town last Thursday, during which officers seized both “illicit street drugs” and money. Three of the nine face charges of trafficking in controlled substances.

The three were identified by police as Farhan Hussein, 30, 26-year-old Zuhayr Maie, and 26-year-old Liban Abdi.

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Hussein and Maie are in custody in Yellowknife and set to appear in court on Tuesday, said police. Abdi was released on bail and is set to appear in a Hay River court on February 24.

Police provided no detail regarding the precise nature of how, or where, the arrests were made. However, RCMP said the operation had involved officers from both the NWT and Yukon alongside federal investigation, major crimes, and police dog units.

The other six people arrested have been released, said RCMP, but the investigation is ongoing.