First Nations safety officers seize drugs, gun on Manto Sipi Cree Nation

First Nations safety officers arrested three people suspected of trafficking drugs on Manto Sipi Cree Nation this month, before turning them over to the RCMP.

First Nations safety officers were working in the community on Dec. 5, when they arrested two women at the airport and seized drugs, cash and other drug-related paraphernalia. The following day, a small quantity of drugs, cash and a firearm were also seized from a home, where a 35-year-old man was taken into custody, RCMP said in a news release Monday.

Mounties from the God’s Lake Narrows detachment flew into the community — located nearly 600 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg — and the three accused were turned over to their custody, along with the seized drugs and other items.

“The God’s Lake Narrows RCMP would like to acknowledge the efforts made by chief and council and the First Nations safety officers of Manto Sipi Cree Nation on their efforts to reduce the amount of illicit contraband from entering their community and endangering the lives of its people,” RCMP Sgt. Corbin Allingham said the release.

The women, ages 37 and 34, were charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking. They were released from custody and will appear in court in the community in February. The man, 35, was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and unsafe storage of a firearm. He was also released and will appear in court on the same date, RCMP said.