Two out-of-teritory men stand charged with drug trafficking and related offences after a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant was executed by multiple RCMP units last Saturday morning in Crestview.

Hamza Omar Yassin, 22, of Richmond, B.C., and Salah Ali Aden, 23, of Edmonton, were arrested and accused of possessing cocaine for the purpose 
of trafficking.

Both were charged with the following Criminal Code offences:

• trafficking schedule 1 substance (cocaine);

• possession of schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine);

• possessing proceeds of crime over $5,000; and

• money laundering.

At the Azure Road residence, police seized:

• more than $130,000 in Canadian currency;

• a large quantity (694 grams) of what’s believed to be cocaine, packaged for resale;

• cell phones; and

• scales and packaging materials.

Investigators also confiscated a Nissan Frontier pickup truck, which is alleged to have been used during the commission of offences, specifically 
drug trafficking.

The operation was led by the Yukon RCMP Crime Reduction Unit.

Members were assisted by the Whitehorse detachment and officers of the Yukon RCMP’s Critical Incident Program, as well as Emergency Response Team members from both the RCMP “G” and “K” Divisions.

“The primary mandate of the Yukon RCMP Crime Reduction Unit is to detect, disrupt and further prevent organized crime from operating in the Yukon,” Supt. Lindsay Ellis, the officer in charge of criminal operations for the Yukon RCMP, said today.

“This investigation provides a snapshot of the organized crime activity taking place in the Yukon, including the drug trafficking that is occurring in Whitehorse that is destined for our communities within the territory.

“This investigation has disrupted the flow of drugs into our Yukon communities, and removed over a hundred thousand dollars out of the hands of criminals.”

Yassin and Aden appeared in territorial court last Sunday.

They were remanded into custody until Monday, when they were released on bail, with conditions to leave the Yukon and only return for court appearances.

They are next scheduled to appear in court on July 12 in Whitehorse.

In the summer of 2022, the RCMP released a lengthy report that found that several organized crime rings, largely based in western provinces, operate in the Yukon in connection with the drug trade.