Three suspects charged: drugs and cash seized by Yellowknife RCMP

August 14, 2026 - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
From: Northwest Territories RCMP

Content

Significant amount of drugs and cash have been seized, and three suspects have been charged by the Yellowknife RCMP following an investigation initiated by a check stop on Highway 3, near Yellowknife.

At approximately 12:54 a.m., on August 3rd, 2026, the Yellowknife RCMP were conducting a check stop on Highway 3, near Yellowknife, when they intercepted a 21-year-old male driver. Officers noted an odour of cannabis coming from the vehicle and initiated a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act investigation. The driver was detained, and a search of the vehicle yielded $13,195.00 in cash and 37 grams of marijuana. The Yellowknife RCMP formed grounds to believe that the suspect was involved in drug trafficking. The driver was later released without charges pending further investigation.

On August 6th, 2026, the Yellowknife RCMP, with assistance from the General Investigation Section, gathered further evidence of the offences and obtained Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrants for a residence and a commercial property.

On August 7th, 2026, the Yellowknife RCMP, with assistance from Emergency Response Team members from the Northwest Territories, Alberta, Yukon, Saskatchewan and Ontario RCMP, executed the search warrants.

At the first location, a residence in Niven, the RCMP seized several thousand dollars of cash and multiple bags of suspected cocaine. An 18-year-old male was arrested without incident. A second suspect, a 22-year-old male, was seen leaving the residence and was subsequently apprehended without incident. Drugs, cash, and a cellphone were found in his possession.

The second search warrant at a commercial property revealed drug trafficking paraphernalia and additional cash.

The third suspect, the 21-year-old driver, was located and arrested without incident at the Yellowknife Airport on August 9th, 2026.

In total, the Yellowknife RCMP seized $37,068 in cash and 133 grams of suspected cocaine.

As a result of this investigation, 21-year-old Matthew Wedawin, of Behchokǫ̀, was charged with:
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000, contrary to section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code;
- Trafficking – Schedule I: Cocaine, contrary to section 5(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
- Possession for the purpose of trafficking – Schedule I: Cocaine, contrary to section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

Nathnael Tafachu, 22, from Burnaby, BC, and Fadil Soboyede, 18, from Toronto, ON, have been charged with:

- Possession for the purpose of trafficking – Schedule I: Cocaine, contrary to section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act;
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000, contrary to section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code.

All three suspects were released and are scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

Anyone with information on illegal activities is asked to contact the Yellowknife RCMP detachment at 867-669-1111 or Crimestoppers at https://p3tips.com

Contacts