News Release

Cash Proceeds From Unlawful Activity Forfeited

Attorney General Uses Civil Asset Forfeiture Law In Drug Money Case

April 3, 2006

News

THUNDER BAY — More than $120,000 has been forfeited to the Crown under the Remedies for Organized Crime and Other Unlawful Activities Act (Civil Remedies Act), Attorney General Michael Bryant announced today.

"A total of $120,130 in cash, has been forfeited," said Bryant. "It was proven before the court that this money, seized by Ontario Provincial Police near Marathon, was a proceed or an instrument of unlawful activity."

The Civil Remedies Act authorizes the Attorney General to ask civil courts to freeze, seize and forfeit the proceeds and instruments of unlawful activity to the Crown. On March 30, 2006, the court ordered the money forfeited to the Crown under the Civil Remedies Act. This order is subject to a 30-day appeal period.

OPP officers were confronted with suspicious circumstances when more than $120,000 in cash was found in the trunk of a car during a motor vehicle search.

Civil asset forfeiture focuses solely on the connection between property and unlawful activity and is not dependant on any criminal charges or convictions. The legislation acts to prevent people from keeping assets acquired through unlawful activity and to prevent assets and property from continuing to being used to engage in unlawful activities.

In Ontario, unlawful activity including fraud, Internet and telemarketing scams, drug trafficking, and marijuana grow operations could be subject to the Civil Remedies Act.

Contacts

Greg Crone
Minister's Office
(416) 326-1785

Brendan Crawley
Communications Branch
(416) 326-2210

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