Yukon RCMP arrest man allegedly involved in organized crime, seize guns and drugs

Yukon RCMPhave arrested a man who was wanted since last year on several drug and organized crime-relatedcharges.

Police say they arrested Taylor Duke of Whitehorse on Thursday morning while executing a search warrant in the Takhini Hot Springs Road area outside Whitehorse. The search was related to a shooting that happened in Whitehorse on July 10 that police had said was believed to be a targeted incident.

They also seizeda collection of 11 shotguns, rifles, handguns,and other illegal firearms, ammunition and high-capacity magazines, quantities of drugsthat appear to include Xanax, cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, hundreds of unidentified capsules, as well as $163,887 in cash.

"The drugs and firearms seized through this investigation represent a significant disruption to drug trafficking and potential violence in our territory," said RCMPSupt. Lindsay Ellis, speaking Wednesday at a news conference. The seized goods lay spread out on a table before her.

"Just the guns and drugs seized from this one residence demonstrates the real danger that is in our communities. Substance use in communities goes hand in hand with drug trafficking and organized crime."

Duke is now facing 25 criminal charges.

Before last week's arrest, he was the subject of arrest warrants for failing to attend court last December and again in March. He was facing several charges, including possession for the purpose of trafficking, participating in a criminal organization, and committing an offence for a criminal organization.

Duke had been arrested in June 2022 along with several others after police searched two Whitehorse residences and seized more guns, drugs and cash.

At the time, police touted the bust as one of the largest seizures of fentanyl in the Yukon. They also said it was likely the first time that anybody in Yukon had been charged undersection 467.1 of the Criminal Code, which deals with organized crime.

Duke also now faces several new charges related toa shooting in Whitehorse last month, including attempted murder with a firearm and unauthorized possession of a firearm.

Police said more charges were expected to be laid in relation to last week's search warrant.