RCMP set new cocaine haul record — for the second time in 2025

RCMP have a new record for the largest cocaine bust in the Northwest Territories, after 5.4 kilograms were seized during a traffic stop on Highway 3 by members of the Behchokǫ̀ detachment.

That bested the 4.7 kilograms of cocaine found in a February 4th raid on two properties and one vehicle in Yellowknife.

G-Division Chief Superintendent Dyson Smith said over the last couple of years, police have seen an increase in drug activity, but have also increased enforcement and have had good results.

He told a media conference on Friday: “We’ve seized handguns, we’ve seized other weapons, and we’ve seized lots of cash and drugs over the last couple of years — it’s been a real collective lift (by us, specialized units and a number of GNWT agencies).

“We had to look at different approaches and I’m happy to report that it’s working, as we can see here by today.”

On October 26th at approximately 1:30 pm officers of the Behchokǫ̀ detachment on patrol of Highway 3 conducted a traffic stop near Mosquito Creek with a speeding vehicle from B.C.

During the course of the traffic stop, “officers formed grounds to believe that the driver and lone occupant was engaged in drug trafficking activity, and he was subsequently arrested,” said Smith.

Investigators then located six vacuum-sealed packages appearing to contain illicit drugs inside the vehicle, along with other paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking.

Upon processing, five of the packages were found to contain suspected cocaine, with a total weight of approximately 5.4 kilograms. The sixth package contains an unknown substance weighing approximately one kilogram.

Testing will be performed to determine the exact composition of the seized substances.

As a result of the investigation, 39-year-old Akashdeep Dhillon of has been charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. He remains in custody.

The investigation is still in its early stages and remains ongoing.

“This is an example of what can be accomplished, even in a territory with vast distances and limited resources,” said Smith, noting the NWT’s vacancy rate for Mounties is the worst in Canada at 22%, down from a recent 25%.

“About a year and a half ago, maybe two years ago, we introduced a new drug strategy, basically looking at enhanced ways to try to combat or address the illicit drug trade and associated organized criminal activity that that goes along with it, considering our environment, the fact that the organized crime groups are from the south, they’re not established here.”

Smith said it’s not been a secret that crack cocaine is the number one drug causing issues in the NWT when it comes to illicit substances, but alcohol still fuels most of the RCMP’s calls for service.

“While this (record seizure), is shocking, and while it is a significant issue, it pales in comparison to the harm that we see on a daily basis caused by just alcohol.”

A value for the 5.4 kilograms of the suspected cocaine wasn’t provided, but the 4.7 kilograms of cocaine seized in February had an estimated street value when broken down for sale of $950,000.  The February raids also netted RCMP $360,000 in cash.