DRUG HOUSE SEIZED IN PORT HARDY

PORT HARDY - A local drug house has been seized by the provincial
government.

The property, located on Nawhitti Avenue, has been the scene of
complaints since August 2005 said RCMP in a press release.

Owner and resident of the house, [name redacted], 44 was previously
charged with possession of a controlled substance. The charges
resulted when police executed a search warrant and seized small
quantities of cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana, magic mushrooms, drug
paraphenalia as well as a rifle and ammunition, said RCMP. As well
$25,700 was seized.

As a result of the investigation, the property has been seized and
forfeited to the Province of British Columbia. The owner was notified
on Dec. 15 that he had 30 days to evacuate the house, said Cpl. Brian
Brown of Campbell River RCMP. If he does not comply, he would be evicted.

The property will be sold and the proceeds used by the provincial
government for community safety programs.

"If the forfeiture of offence-related property cannot be processed
through the criminal justice system, then another option is available
to police, to proceed with a referral to the BC Civil Forfeiture
Office. Either way, we are committed to taking the profits out of
criminals' hands by seizing their cars, boats, cash and houses," says
Inspector Mike Arnold, operations officer in charge of Federal
Integrated Proceeds of Crime.

In the spring of 2006, Bill 13, the Civil Forfeiture Act was enacted
in the Province of British Columbia. To date several assets alleged to
be offence-related property or the proceeds of crime have been seized
in the province, said RCMP. This has included several houses used as
marijuana grow operations, vehicles used for dial-a-dope operations
and transport for bulk loads of narcotics, vehicles used in street
racing and large bundles of currency seized during vehicle stops.

"Working together, police and our Civil Forfeiture Office are helping
to restore order and safety in a growing number of neighbourhoods that
have been plagued by chronic, unlawful activity, including
drug-related crime," said British Columbia Solicitor General Kash Heed.