A Selawik man is charged with importing alcohol into a dry, local option community.
Court documents show Alaska State Troopers received an anonymous tip on March 12 that 23-year-old Spencer Pungalik and another man from Noorvik planned to transport the airfreighted alcohol from Kotzebue’s airport to Selawik.The tipster said the two men planned to travel by snowmachine, roughly 70 miles between the two communities.
The troopers notified village police officers in Selawik who intercepted the two men when they arrived in the community.VPOs confiscated a duffel bag from Pungalik’s snow machine and one other bag, which Pungalik allegedly took and ran away.
Troopers later searched the confiscated duffel bag and found 27, 750ml bottles of R&R whiskey.
Pungalik was charged with one felony count of importation of alcohol. Court records show he has a previous conviction for importing alcohol in 2023.
Pungalik’s next court date is scheduled for April 8th, in Kotzebue.
