Premier Dennis Fentie was involved in a heroin ring 25 years ago in Edmonton.

The Yukon News in Whitehorse reported Friday that Fentie was charged with two counts of trafficking heroin in 1975, and spent 17 months in a federal penitentiary serving his sentence.

Premier Dennis Fentie spent time in prison for heroin trafficking

During the election campaign, Fentie admitted to his criminal past but did not provide specific details.

Old newspaper articles from the Edmonton Journal say Fentie, who was 24 at the time, was part of a large drug ring that police were attempting to shut down to stop the flow of drugs into the city.

His criminal records have been sealed from the public after he was pardoned for the crimes.

NDP leader Todd Hardy says Fentie's own party should decide his future

• FROM OCT 23, 2002 : Yukon Party leader explains criminal past

The opposition isn't rushing to condemn the premier.

NDP leader Todd Hardy says the Premier has paid his debt to society, although he does say Fentie could have handled the situation better.

"Possibly he hasn't been forthcoming, around that information," Hardy said. "And probably he should have been made known to people during the election of course."

NDP Leader Todd Hardy says Fentie's own party members should decide the future of their leader, and he isn't calling for Fentie's resignation.