Whitehorse RCMP have arrested what they say are top-level members of an organized cocaine trafficking group in the Yukon this week.

Police announced Friday that they've charged five men with drug trafficking and other related charges as part of Project Macer, an undercover investigation targeting a group that transported cocaine from Surrey, B.C., to Whitehorse.

Over the course of their four-month investigation, RCMP seized a total of 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, 1,300 tablets of ecstasy and $15,000 in cash from two Whitehorse homes and one in Surrey, according to a release.

"We've seized enormous amounts of assets — including cash, cars, off-road vehicles, jewellery, and a large volume of documents — to support our allegation that this was a lucrative enterprise," Sgt. Blake Wawryk, head of the Yukon RCMP's drug section, told CBC News on Friday.

Four men were arrested on Thursday:

  • John Anthony Vanderheide, 37, of Surrey, B.C., charged with trafficking cocaine, conspiracy to traffic cocaine and possessing property obtained by crime.
  • Liam Wade Leslie, 22, of Whitehorse, charged with trafficking cocaine, conspiracy to traffic cocaine and numerous counts of possessing property obtained by crime.
  • Jesse Allan Ritchie, 30, of Whitehorse, charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine.
  • Shaun Naidu, 28, of Whitehorse, charged with trafficking ecstacy, trafficking anabolic steroids and possessing property obtained by crime.

Police have also issued an arrest warrant for Whitehorse resident Ryan Eli Derkson, 26, who is charged with drug trafficking and conspiracy to traffic cocaine.

Wiretap evidence

Wawryk said of the evidence against the men was gathered from wiretap. A gang associate helped police by wearing the wires.

Wawryk claimed the arrested men were willing to do what was necessary to maintain control of the Yukon's drug market.

"They controlled it in a way that organized crime does — with intimations of violence, fear tactics, thug tactics — to make sure that they control the streets and the sale of their product in the Yukon," he said.

Wawryk acknowledged that other drug traffickers will now try to take over the market, but he said RCMP will do what's necessary to nab them as well.

"Left untouched, these groups develop a huge strength, and it's not long before our moral fabric erodes, violence is a day-to-day accepted event," he said.

"We have to hold the drug traffickers accountable for their actions."