RCMP in the Northwest Territories say they have arrested 22 people following a series of drug busts in four communities this week.

The drug busts, which took place in Yellowknife, Inuvik, Fort Smith and Hay River, N.W.T., resulted from months-long investigations into the illicit drug trade in those communities, RCMP said in a release Thursday.

Some of the 22 people arrested have already been charged, including three people in Yellowknife who made a court appearance on Thursday afternoon.

In Hay River, three men and one youth were charged with one count each of trafficking in a controlled substance.

The three adults, who range in age from 19 to 30, are scheduled to appear in court in Hay River on May 4, according to RCMP. The youth cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

"It definitely sends a strong message to the drug dealers," Sgt. Scott Buchanan of the Hay River RCMP told CBC News on Thursday.

"Likewise, it sends a message out to the community that their participation has resulted in some good action."

Two Fort Smith men, aged 27 and 19, were charged with drug trafficking, while one man was charged in Inuvik, according to police.

Wide range of drugs seized

RCMP could not say what quantities of drugs have been seized in the busts, since the investigations are still ongoing. However, they said investigators have seized cocaine, crack cocaine, ecstasy, oxycodone, morphine and marijuana.

"The illicit and illegal drug trade has a detrimental and harmful impact on the health, safety and social fabric of our communities, our families, our people and our youth, as well as undermining the economic integrity potential of the Northwest Territories," RCMP stated in a release.

Jill Taylor, who works with Hay River teenagers who want to put an end to drugs in their town, said more needs to be done to make sure drug dealers do not come back to communities.

"What can we do to help these individuals start a new path that they're not put back on the streets [and] continue in this circle of selling and whatnot?" she said.

Taylor said people in Hay River are researching how drug courts could help dealers get out of the drug trade.

Meanwhile, the RCMP say there could be more drug busts in the days to come. Investigators are encouraging anyone with information about the illicit drug trade in their communities to contact police or Crime Stoppers.