The provincial government is trying to seize three commercial properties in Richmond, previously raided by police and allegedly linked to illicit cannabis grow operations.
The properties, two on Westminster Highway, and one on Blundell Road near Sidaway Road, were raided last fall as part of a Delta Police (DPD) investigation into an $18-million drug-trafficking operation.
DPD said at the time that they seized 18,145 plants and 1,394 pounds of dried cannabis that was being produced under the guise of a medical marijuana licence. The dried cannabis had an estimated value of $1.8 million.
The province now wants the three properties, along with cash, a truck and three motorcycles, forfeited as the proceeds of crime, according to a notice of civil claim filed in BC Supreme Court on Jan. 20.
Other allegations listed in the lawsuit include drug trafficking, money laundering and failure to declare taxable income.
None of the defendants named in the lawsuit have filed responses and the claims have not been proven in court. Furthermore, none have been charged criminally, according to a search of online court records.
DPD launched their investigation last year, conducting surveillance at the properties and enquiring with Health Canada about cannabis licences linked to them.
DPD executed search warrants at each of the properties on Oct. 28.
At 20291 Westminster Highway, police found defendant Brook Nathan Hafiz, of Nanaimo, and “three workers,” the court document states, along with 5,553 cannabis plants in various stages of growth, 331.59 kilograms of cannabis bud, 49.44 grams of cannabis bud and leaves, “illicit cannabis growing equipment” and surveillance cameras and a DVR system.
Police also found a 2009 Harley Davidson Motorcycle owned by defendant Brian Joseph Whelan of Spruce Grove, Alberta, and a 2018 Harley linked to Hafiz and defendant Christopher Brian Cornett, a New Westminster resident. Both of the motorcycles had Hells Angels support stickers on them, according to the lawsuit.
A third motorcycle of unknown make was also found, and is believed to be owned by Hafiz, according to the court document.
At the 14611 Westminster property, police found 533 cannabis plants “in various stages of growth,” 6.65 grams of cannabis bud, illicit cannabis growing equipment and a surveillance system.
Defendant Colin Chonn, who is listed as the sole director of 1135429 BC Ltd., which owns the property at 20291 Westminster, was arrested as he drove away in a 2015 Dodge Ram, which the government wants forfeited. Police seized Chonn’s black Louis Vuitton bag and wallet, and $5,348.85 in cash.
Meanwhile, police located “several workers” at the Blundell property, along with a currency counting machine, 11,152 cannabis plants, 300.76 grams of cannabis bud and leaves, illicit cannabis growing equipment and a surveillance system.
The lawsuit alleges that, on and before the Oct. 28 raids, the cannabis being produced at the properties was being produced for the purpose of trafficking, distribution and selling and/or for selling and supplying, contrary to the Cannabis, Cannabis Control and Licencing and Controlled Drugs and Substances acts.
“The authorizations for the possession or production of cannabis with respect to the real property are not valid or, in the alternative, the cannabis being produced was not in accordance with the terms of said authorizations and/or the Cannabis Act and Cannabis Control and Licencing Act,” the court document reads.
The October raids were part of the DPD’s second probe into the drug-trafficking operation. The first probe was carried out in August, including at two commercial properties in Richmond, which were later named in a separate civil forfeiture suit launched by the province last November.
Meanwhile, at the 20291 Westminster property, Mandip Mike Madhuar and Mandeep Dosanjh each held one personal use licence to produce 487 plants, and Aman Singh Sandhu held a licence to produce 292 plants.
The second property at 14611 Westminster Highway, owned by defendants Lance and Chat Mui Chan, had three personal use licences associated with it. Colin Chonn, one of the defendants, and Cattarina Chonn each held a licence for 390 plants, and Lauren Nishe held a 463-plant licence.
The third property, at Blundell and Sidaway roads which is owned by defendants Santokh Singh Kallu and Sukhbir Singh Kallu, had four licences linked to it: one for Krishansarup Singh Kallu to produce 589 plants for another individual, one for Melissa Kim to produce 146 plants for personal use, and personal use licences for 1,168 plants held by Mohinder Kallu and Yadvinder Singh Kallu.
