RCMP Alert: Major Cocaine Seizure Near Behchokǫ̀, NWT Highway 3

On the night of Sunday, May 24, officers from the Behchokǫ̀ RCMP conducted a traffic stop on Highway 3 near North Arm Park in the Northwest Territories. During this stop, police seized approximately three kilograms of suspected cocaine, along with cash and drug-related items, from a vehicle registered in Alberta.

The driver, a 32-year-old woman from Alberta, was the lone person in the vehicle and was arrested at the scene on suspicion of involvement in drug trafficking. She now faces a serious controlled substances charge and has been remanded into custody pending a court appearance later in May.

Official Incident Details

According to the RCMP, the traffic stop occurred at approximately 11:45 p.m. on May 24 along Highway 3 near North Arm Park. Officers interacting with the driver developed grounds to believe that she was engaged in drug trafficking activities, which led to her arrest and a subsequent search of the vehicle.

During that search, officers located and seized suspected drugs, Canadian currency, and items commonly associated with the distribution of illicit substances. This seizure represents a significant quantity for a community the size of Behchokǫ̀ and surrounding areas, where law enforcement continues to focus on preventing harmful drugs from reaching local residents. For broader local crime trends and context, residents can consult the Behchokǫ̀ crime statistics and safety data on CrimeCanada.ca.

Seized Items

During the vehicle search, officers reported seizing:

• Approximately 3 kilograms of suspected cocaine
• $1,500 in Canadian currency
• Drug paraphernalia consistent with trafficking-related activity

Accused and Charges

The driver arrested during the stop has been identified as Beth Mulligan, 32, of Alberta. Following the investigation to date, she has been formally charged with the following offence:

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking – Schedule I: cocaine, contrary to section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act

Beth Mulligan has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in court on May 28. The RCMP note that the investigation remains ongoing.

RCMP leadership in the South District of the Northwest Territories have emphasized that this seizure demonstrates their ongoing effort to keep illegal drugs out of northern communities and reduce the harm associated with the trafficking and use of substances such as cocaine.

CrimeCanada.ca Safety Perspective

From the perspective of CrimeCanada.ca, this incident highlights the ongoing risks that trafficking corridors along major routes like Highway 3 pose to communities in the Northwest Territories. A seizure of roughly three kilograms of suspected cocaine represents a substantial amount of drugs that will not reach local residents, helping reduce the potential for addiction, overdoses, and violence linked to the illegal drug trade.

Residents are encouraged to stay attentive to unusual activity around highways, rest areas, and community access roads, particularly where vehicles appear to be making frequent, short stops or exchanging items in secluded locations. While members of the public should never intervene directly, promptly reporting suspicious behaviour to the RCMP or local law enforcement can play an important role in disrupting trafficking networks before drugs reach neighbourhoods and vulnerable individuals. Combined with awareness of local conditions, supported by tools like regional crime and safety data, community vigilance helps create safer environments for everyone.

Official Source & Community Safety

This safety alert is based on an official release from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). CrimeCanada.ca aggregates and analyzes this data to keep the northwest-territories community informed, aware, and safe. We are an independent safety data aggregator and not the original creators of the underlying incident report.

Read the full official release here: RCMP Official Statement.