Alleged Whitehorse bootlegger evicted from home

A Whitehorse man accused of bootlegging and selling drugs has been evicted from his home.

It's the first eviction of its kind in the territory under the Yukon government's Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act.

Marius Moustakas, 71, had been under video surveillance for months at his Porter Creek home. Under a recent Yukon Supreme Court hearing, he was ordered to stop dealing in illegal alcohol and drugs.

Moustakas promised that he would fight the government action. But after a fire damaged his house last month, he went to court and agreed to the eviction two weeks ago.

One of the tenants told the court Moustakas realized he had to stop dealing when customers started specifically demanding cocaine. The tenant said Moustakas suspected undercover police were onto his operation because customers normally used code words to denote their drug of choice.

Yukon Public Safety Director Jeff Ford said investigators had gathered overwhelming evidence against Moustakas.

"We spoke to a lot of neighbours who said that there was illegal activity ongoing on this property for many years, so I think the neighbours in the community should be relieved after many years that this property and the harms associated with the property should come to an end. And if there is any resumption we'll be back in court," said Ford.

The July 1 eviction order is for 90 days with cease and desist provisions for up to a year. The eviction includes any tenants on the property.

Moustakas has evicted tenants in a neighbouring property he owns, which is two blocks away, and he now resides there.