PROVINCE WANTS OWNERS TO FORFEIT POT FACTORY

Police Find 1,040 Marijuana Plants

The province is seeking to seize an Abbotsford home where police found
a sophisticated marijuana grow-op that operated for nearly eight
years, as well as firearms, ammunition and cash.

The director of civil forfeiture says a two-storey garage attached to
a threefloor residence on Siskin Drive was used as a grow-op from May
30, 2003, to March 17, 2011.

A civil claim filed in B.C. Supreme Court says the down payment the
four owners used to purchase the home was acquired from the sale of
marijuana.

Proceeds from the sale of controlled substances were used to make
material contributions to the equity in the property, says the court
document.

On March 17, the police search revealed a "sophisticated hand-watered
marijuana grow-op" in the garage, which had a separate entrance. There
were 1,040 marijuana plants, says the claim.

Also located on the property were 52 lights, one hand gun, one
submachinegun, one assault rifle and ammunition for each firearm.

Police also found $4,000 in cash and a device for obtaining
electricity without it being metered.

The director is seeking an order forfeiting the property to the B.C.
government and for an accounting and forfeiture of all profits and
rents from the property.

Named as owners of the property are four people -[name1 redacted],
[name2 redacted], [name3 redacted] and [name4 redacted].

A property search reveals that the owners purchased the home on May
30, 2003, for $510,000. It is currently valued at $673,000.

Reached at the residence Wednesday, [name1 redacted] referred any
questions to his lawyer, Brij Mohan. The lawyer could not be reached
for comment. No statement of defence has been filed.

A notice of civil claim contains allegations not yet proven in court.