Cambridge Bay, Canada — Following a violent incident earlier this month, local authorities announced the seizure of crack cocaine, an unlicensed handgun, and over $5,000 in suspected illicit proceeds. The developments stem from a brutal assault that hospitalized two victims and prompted police action.
Three individuals — 19-year-old Hadi Alhashesh from Chilliwack, British Columbia, 22-year-old Ly Gabriel Galido, and 18-year-old Ayaan Kamran Warsi, both from Edmonton — have been charged with serious offenses. Their charges include aggravated assault, forcible confinement, and trafficking a controlled substance related to the July 8 assault. Authorities reported that a fourth suspect, 19-year-old Joshua MacPherson, also from Cambridge Bay, faces two assault charges but was released ahead of a scheduled court appearance in September.
Allegations surrounding the incident indicate that a firearm was brandished to intimidate the victims, with reports suggesting that one victim was robbed of $140 at gunpoint. The suspects were also charged specifically with trafficking crack cocaine, highlighting the serious nature of the case.
Investigators uncovered more than $5,000 during their inquiry, believed to be linked to criminal activities. These developments point to a troubling trend in the community, raising concerns about safety and local crime levels.
In a recent interview, RCMP Superintendent Kent Pike declined to provide specifics regarding the type of drugs involved, indicating that further lab analysis is pending. “There’s confirmation that needs to be done in the labs,” Pike stated, emphasizing the need for thorough investigation.
In response to community safety concerns, Pike, along with Cambridge Bay MLA Pamela Gross and Mayor Wayne Gregory, convened a town hall on July 14. During the meeting, residents voiced their anxieties and proposed various initiatives to enhance safety within the community. Suggestions included establishing an Alert Ready system to disseminate emergency notifications via phones and televisions, increasing grassroots policing through a Citizens on Patrol program, and occasionally deploying an RCMP drug detection canine in the area.
Alhashesh, Galido, and Warsi remain in custody, with a court hearing scheduled for July 29 in Iqaluit. As the case unfolds, community members are left grappling with the implications of the violent incident and the broader issues of crime and safety in their small northern hamlet. The allegations remain unproven in a court of law, and a community awaits further developments as the legal process moves forward.