POT PROBE LEADS TO FOUR ARRESTS, SEIZURE OF HOUSE, CARS, CASH

An eight-month probe into two Vancouver pot "brokers" has culminated
in the arrests of four people and seizure of two cars, a house and
more than $100,000 in cash.

Vancouver police revealed the details of "Project Trapdoor" on
Thursday, saying the bust had made a significant impact on the local
drug trade.

"Anecdotally, we can say it created a significant gap in the
organization and distribution of marijuana among certain groups. There
was an immediate effect felt on the street, particularly with some
groups that were moving large amounts of marijuana," said Sgt. Brad
Desmarais, who works with the gangs and drug section.

"Our focus here was on disruption, but also removing the profit
motive, because these people are obviously making an enormous amount
of money that is untaxed."

Project Trapdoor started in August 2008 and focused on two houses: one
in the 4800-block Knight and another in the 3200-block Renfrew streets.

Police allege that these homes were used as "transfer houses" in the
marijuana trade. Such homes function much like a brokerage in that pot
growers sell their marijuana to the transfer house, which is then sold
"wholesale" to other drug dealers or drug organizations.

"They're almost like a brokerage. The house becomes known to a number
of groups or a number of organizations or a number of people and
they'll put in orders," said Desmarais.

Transfer houses grade the marijuana before buying it from a grower.
And drug dealers buying from the transfer house sometimes bid on the
pot, said Sgt. Neil Munro.

Project Trapdoor culminated on April 2 with the arrests of 45-year-old
Van Ngan Ngan Nguyen and his wife, Thi Thuy Nguyen, 41. They have been
charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking.

The Nguyens were living at the Renfrew home. Their three children have
been taken into custody of the Ministry of Children and Family
Development.

Ping Ting Chen, 25, and Zhi Hua Zhao, 34, who were linked to the
Knight Street house, have also been charged with possession for the
purpose of trafficking.

Chen owns that home, which was assessed at $626,000 in 2008.

Police seized 17 kilograms of marijuana during the investigation.

A 2004 Acura MDX and a 2008 Volkswagen Jetta, as well as $79,000 in
cash, were also seized under proceeds of crime laws, meaning Crown
counsel will ask for forfeiture of the assets upon conviction.

In addition, the house on Knight Street and $40,000 US in cash were
seized under the B.C. Civil Forfeiture Act, which allows the
provincial government to apply in civil court for forfeiture of assets
acquired through or used to engage in criminal activity.

The Renfrew house was not seized, due to insufficient evidence.

The Civil Forfeiture Act is often used by police when the evidence is
not strong enough to stand up in criminal court.

Investigators said Thursday they did not know the value of the seized
assets, although it was likely less than the cost of the probe.

Desmarais said that investigations into transfer houses require
immense resources and are not undertaken often for that reason.