KELOWNA – B.C.’s Director of Civil Forfeiture has launched legal action to seize three Kelowna properties allegedly purchased with ill-gotten gains from the marijuana industry.
The collective assessed value of the homes is almost $1.6 million.
They are owned by eight members of an extended family, including Balwinder Takhar, who blames tenants of his rental home for two marijuana grow-ops where police seized more than 2400 plants.
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The first raid happened in October, 2009.
The other was in February of this year.
Takhar’s lawyer says the family owns several businesses and has the resources to purchase the properties legitimately.
“They certainly didn’t participate in setting up grow-ops, they didn’t participate in operating them, and they didn’t derive any proceeds from the grow-ops whatsoever. And of course, they intend to defend themselves completely,” says Jennifer Thorne.
When one of the family members went to the RCMP detachment to inquire about the February raid, he was arrested and searched.
Police found 12.4 grams of heroin, 6.2 grams of cocaine, two cell phones and $1,739 in cash.
The government is also seeking the forfeiture of that money.
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