CRIME PROCEEDS SEIZED

The B.C. government has seized $1.1 million worth of cash and
jewellery in the first year of the new Civil Forfeiture Act, a law to
prevent people from benefiting from illegal activity.

Solicitor General John Les says an additional $4.5 million in cash,
real estate and vehicles is under the control of the B.C. Supreme
Court while lawsuits are underway to determine if it will also be forfeited.

The largest seizure so far was $500,000 from an unregistered
investment scheme, which is being returned to investors. Another
$240,000 cash was taken from members of a Lower Mainland gang,
believed to be from drug trafficking, and $100,000 in cash and
jewellery came from proceeds of marijuana growing.

"The goal was to have 15 files referred to government the first year,
but because of overwhelming support from enforcement agencies across
B.C., more than 60 cases are being pursued by our civil forfeiture
office," Les said.