Organized crime is expanding into the Yukon from southern jurisdictions, report says

Organized crime is becoming more prevalent in the Yukon, as networks from B.C. and Alberta are expanding into the territory, according to a law enforcement intelligence report. 

"I think the Yukon is a significant market for drug consumption," said Ian Fraser, crime reduction supervisor of the Yukon RCMP crime reduction unit. "Its access over the years has increased with daily flights into Yukon from southern jurisdictions."

The Criminal Intelligence Service British Columbia/Yukon, which is made up of representatives from various law enforcement services, completed the report in December 2024. It says that there are currently five organized crime networks operating in the Yukon. 

The report states that lost productivity associated with opioid overdose deaths and the illicit drug market is estimated to have cost $58.9 million. That's $1,273 per capita in the Yukon. 

Minister of Justice Tracy-Anne McPhee said she is not surprised by the report's findings.

"We have been well aware of the activities, the fact that there's been movement in and out," McPhee said. "Addressing the causes and effects of organized crime in the territory will take both a strong RCMP response and working together with our partners to address the root causes of crime."

Fraser said Yukon RCMP have also seized larger amounts of illicit drugs in recent years. 

"The amount of money and drugs we're seizing is surprising and I think that follows a trend across the country," Fraser said. "We recently had the largest seizure in Yukon history."

Cocaine is the most prevalent illicit drug in the Yukon, according to the report, with an estimated 15 to 20 kilograms of cocaine being trafficked into the territory per month. 

Dealers entering from the south

Drugs dealers are "rotating in and out of the Yukon from southern jurisdictions," said Fraser.

"What they're doing is they're using either threats or intimidation or financial reward or otherwise to basically take over homes and vehicles of Yukon citizens who may be vulnerable persons susceptible to those types of activities," Fraser said.

Fraser suggested Yukoners who rent out their properties remain "vigilant" and make themselves aware of what to look out for. 

"If they have a rental property and somebody from down south with maybe a story that doesn't make sense wants to rent their property," Fraser said. "There have been some people that have had some unfortunate surprises when their guests leave and they find the remnants in their homes of what's going on there."

Illicit drugs causing more harm per capita 

The report concludes that illicit drugs from organized crime account for more harm per capita in the Yukon than alcohol and tobacco. This data stems from another report on the economic costs of substance use by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. 

Since more individuals drink and smoke than use illicit drugs, alcohol and tobacco still cause the most harm overall. However, illicit drugs also surpassed alcohol as the leading contributor to early death in the Yukon in 2024, according to the report.

Yukon NDP Leader Kate White said she is concerned that the report does not "reflect the reality of alcohol consumption in the territory."

"Alcohol consumption kills more Yukoners than any other single thing," White said. "But it's not tracked in the same way because it's not so easy to identify someone that goes into the hospital with any of the side effects of alcohol. It's much easier to track if someone's coming in for an overdose reversal."

According to the report, illicit drug related deaths in the Yukon have decreased since 2021, but there has been a rise in the number of emergency department visits related to overdoses.

White said she views these as "success numbers."

"I think that the territory as a whole has done a really good job about learning, for example, about support and prevention," White said.

"The reality is overdoses are happening now and overdoses will happen in the future. But the more we can remove the stigma and the more we can tell people that they're valuable, that we want them to live, that they should access health care, is really important."

John Baker is a citizen of Carcross/Tagish First Nation in the Yukon and works in community health and wellness. He sees a lot of drug use in the community. 

 "When something like [an overdose] happens, I'm right there, and if I'm first on the scene. Then I'm on the phone with 911 right away," Baker said.

Baker said his community needs better aftercare programs to help citizens who come back to the community after receiving treatment.

Need for 'upstream investments'

White says the report's findings outline the need for more "upstream investments" in the territory. That's investment in things like social housing, sober housing, land-based treatment options and family support. 

"The unfortunate truth is things like organized crime or illicit drug use or like an increased dependency on alcohol are things we see when people are missing critical things in their life, like hope," White said.

The justice minister said the government has been working to provide these critical supports. 

"Supportive housing is key, but we have to meet people where they are," McPhee said. "Sober housing is appropriate and necessary for some individuals who are recovering, but it's not where everyone is. So we've got programs that support both."

McPhee acknowledged that more work needs to be done to address the root causes of organized crime in the Yukon. 

"We know the RCMP is doing a great job trying to battle this organized crime and the crime that takes place here in the territory, but we also know that we have to work on providing opportunities for people and addressing root causes."