A B.C. man who took part in a major cocaine trafficking ring in the territory was sentenced Thursday to 3 1/2 years in prison.

Territorial judge John Faulkner followed a joint submission for sentencing put forward by Crown prosecutor Eric Marcoux and defence lawyer Ian McKay.

Asif Aslam, 39, pleaded guilty to trafficking cocaine back on Nov. 25, 2015.

Aslam was arrested during the Yukon RCMP’s Project Monolith.

The operation, conducted by the “M” Federal Investigation Unit, led to six arrests in November 2013.

Using a drug dealer turned informant, the force gathered evidence on a cocaine trafficking ring bringing drugs from B.C.’s Lower Mainland to the territory.

A publication ban prohibits publishing any information that would identify the informant.

On Nov. 1, 2013, the informant was directed to meet with Aslam, Matthew Truesdale and Jesse Ritchie.

Aslam told the informant he had close to two kilos of cocaine available for purchase.

Later, Truesdale delivered 1 3/4 kilos to the informant.

In his submissions to convince the judge to accept the joint submission, McKay told the court about Aslam’s personal background and family.

The New Wesminster, B.C. man has three children and a wife, and no criminal record.

His father has Alzheimer’s disease, and Aslam spent considerable time taking care of him.

Aslam realizes the harm he has done to this family, his lawyer said.

He is also aware of the harm cocaine does to the territory.

One of Aslam’s children was born when he was in custody awaiting release on bail.

That, on top of the fact he might not be out of jail before his father’s condition deteriorates further, also accomplished the goal of denunciation and deterrence, McKay said.

Since his release on bail, Aslam has started a demolition business in the Lower Mainland. He has 12 employees and a number of subcontractors.

Letters of references from friends and co-workers were filed to the court.

The guilty plea Aslam entered also saved a “tremendous” amount of court time, his lawyer said, which should be taken into account.

McKay asked that the judge recommend Aslam be eligible for early parole, which Faulkner accepted.

With credit for time on remand, Aslam has two years and 10 months left to serve at a federal penitentiary.

He was taken into custody at the end of the sentencing hearing.

To date, prosecutors have obtained five convictions out of seven people charged.

Truesdale was also sentenced to three and a half years last March 23.

Ritchie received five years and seven months – he was one of the “higher-ups,” the Crown told the judge at the time.

The man sold $400,000 worth of drugs to the informant.

They’re appealing the acquittal of Jason McMillan.

The last suspect, Alfred Marques, was only arrested in December 2015.