Good afternoon, thank you for coming. I am Chief Superintendent Scott Sheppard, Commanding Officer for the Yukon RCMP. I am here today to provide details regarding the recent police operation that occurred in the territory, and specifically in Dawson City on March 6, 2024. In order to do so, there is some relevant background information I should provide first.
You may recall in June of 2022, the Crime Reduction Unit, known as CRU, concluded Project Monterey with the execution of several search warrants and charges against Tyler Taylor and Taylor Duke as well as several other associates.
As reported to you at the time in August of 2023, with Project Monterey charges still before the courts, Whitehorse General Investigation Section, or GIS, executed a search warrant in Whitehorse. This search warrant resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of cocaine, Fentanyl, cash, and firearms.
Taylor Duke was arrested during this warrant execution and charged with over 60 offences. This investigation included a culmination of several acts of violence, many involving firearms. The resulting charges were related to attempted murder, firearms offences, offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, proceeds of crime, and others. Taylor Duke remains in custody now as a result of this arrest.
Crime Reduction Unit investigators learned that Tyler Taylor, Taylor Duke, and a group of associates may have continued to traffic controlled substances despite their previous arrests and subsequent charges. The Crime Reduction Unit initiated a new investigation.
As a result of this new and complex investigation, a police operation was conducted in Dawson City. On March 6, 2024 search warrants were executed on two residences. Multiple investigative units were on hand to assist. Lead by the CRU, police officers assisted from Whitehorse and Dawson City Detachments, the Major Crime Unit, the Critical Incident Program, including Critical Incident Commander, and the M Division Emergency Response Team assisted by "G" Division officers.
Tyler Taylor, a 32 year old from Dawson City, was arrested without incident.
At the time of his arrest Tyler Taylor was on strict conditions as a result of the Project Monterey investigation, including house arrest and subject to GPS ankle bracelet monitoring.
Two residences in Dawson City, were secured and searched under Warrants to Search and resulted in a seizure of the following items:
- 3 handguns [one loaded], one of which was a prohibited firearm equipped with a suppressor;
- 12 gauge pump action shotgun;
- Over 10 Kilograms of believed Cocaine in brick form as well as several ounces of believed crack and powder cocaine packaged in various smaller quantities;
- Several pounds of vacuum sealed cannabis;
- Several cell phones;
- Several bundles of cash with an approximate total value of 522,000 dollars; (five hundred twenty-two thousand dollars)
- Ammunition compatible with seized firearms;
- Assorted drug trafficking paraphernalia.
Note: All drugs are currently being analysed.
Tyler Taylor appeared in court by phone on March 7, 2024 at 1 pm where his matters were adjourned to March 14, 2024 at 1 pm. Following his court appearance, Tyler Taylor was transported to Whitehorse.
Tyler George Taylor was charged, in part, with the following:
- Participation in Activities for a Criminal Organization;
- Two counts of Conspiracy to Commit the offence of Aggravated Assault;
- Trafficking Cocaine for the benefit/in association with a Criminal Organization;
- Conspiracy to Commit the offence of Aggravated Assault;
- Conspiracy to Commit the offence of Trafficking a Controlled Substance [Cocaine and Fentanyl];
- Being involved in a Criminal Organization and instructing a person to commit Aggravated Assault;
- Seven counts of Fail to Comply with conditions of a Release Order;
- Possess Proceeds of Property [money] Obtained by Crime over $5000;
- Possess Schedule I substance (Cocaine) for the Purpose of Trafficking;
- Three counts of Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited Weapon;
- Possession of a Loaded Prohibited Firearm;
- Unauthorized Possession of a firearm (non-restricted).
During this investigation, evidence was also obtained to support additional charges against Taylor Duke.
On March 7, 2024, Taylor Duke was arrested, at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre, on the strength of an arrest warrant which was obtained earlier that day.
Taylor Duke was charged with the following:
- Two counts of Participation in Activities for a Criminal Organization;
- Two counts of Conspiracy to Commit the offence of Aggravated Assault;
- Conspiracy to Commit the offence of Trafficking a Controlled Substance [Cocaine and Fentanyl];
- Fail to Comply with conditions of a Release Order.
Taylor Duke appeared in Court via video on March 7, 2024 at 1pm.
Of note, Taylor Duke is scheduled to appear for sentencing on charges related to Project MONTEREY on March 14, 2024.
We believe this seizure of cocaine to be the largest cocaine seizure in the Yukon to date. As part of the RCMP's contribution to the government's Substance Use Health Emergency, we will continue to focus our efforts in targeting organized crime and the illicit drug trade. A key pillar of any Harm Reduction strategy is enforcement, and the RCMP hears repeatedly from all corners of our Yukon communities, the devastating impact these drugs are having. This impact is even more pronounced within certain sectors of an already vulnerable population.
I would also like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of many of our employees, most notably, the Crime Reduction Unit, for their work on this and numerous other priority investigations important to Yukoners.