HOT WHEELS: LUXURY CARS USED FOR DRUG-DEALING SET FOR
AUCTION

Four luxury vehicles seized from suspected drug traffickers are being
auctioned off by the province under B.C.'s civil forfeiture law.

The 2005 H2 Hummer, a 2003 Mercedes Benz ML500, a 2004 Acura RSX and a
1995 Toyoto 4Runner worth a combined $65,000 are being stored at the
province's Asset Investment Recovery Warehouse in Surrey.

"These vehicles were all used as tools for criminal activity," said
Solicitor General Kash Heed. "Seizing these high-end toys sends a
strong message to those who enjoy them as fruits of unlawful activity."

Bidding on the vehicles continues until Oct. 22 at
www.bcauction.ca.

Although the vehicles are being stored in Surrey, none of them were
actually seized in Metro Vancouver.

The Hummer was seized by Victoria Police, the Toyota was seized amid
busts of outdoor marijuana grow-ops by Sunshine Coast RCMP and the
other two vehicles were stopped containing drugs in routine police
road checks by the Victoria Integrated Road Safety Unit.

As of Tuesday, the Hummer had the high bid of $18,235 while the top
bidder for the Toyota is just $1,575.

More than $7.5 million in vehicles, cash and real estate have been
forfeited to the province under the civil forfeiture
legislation.

The money helps support the forfeiture program, grants to victims and
community crime prevention, including the Vancouver Police
Department's ConAir program.

- -Black Press