RCMP sieze another Slocan Valley residence through Property Restraint Order, owner faces charges in grow-up bust
By Nelson Daily Staff
RCMP have siezed another residence in the Slocan Valley through a Property Restraint Order.
Cst. Shaun Foley of the Slocan Lake Detachment said officers sought and obtained a Property Restraint Order, issued by a B.C. Supreme Court Judge in the Vancouver Registry, for a property that contained a commercial marihuana grow operation.
“The accused and property owner, Jean Yves Murray, 36, has been formally charged for offences stemming from the judicially-authorized search of his property on February 3 of this year,” Cst. Foley said in the RCMP release.
“It is alleged that Murray was operating a commercial-style marihuana grow operation comprised of 396 plants, and that he was in unlawful possession of a shotgun that was found to be stolen in Edmonton.”
Murray now faces the following charges of production of Marihuana, possession of Marihuana for the purpose of trafficking; unauthorized possession of a firearm and unsafe Storage of a Firearm.
The Property Restraint Order prevents the owner from selling or transferring interest in the property, and from doing anything that could depreciate the value of the property until the criminal matter is dealt with in court.
The order also gives interim control and management of the property to the Seized Property Management Directorate (SPMD) of the Public Works and Government Services Canada.
Depending on the outcome of the criminal case, the trial judge may forfeit the property, wholly or partially, to the Crown.
The Murray case is yet another cooperative enforcement effort by the Nakusp and Slocan Lake Detachments to combat illicit drug activity in the Slocan Valley.
This is the fourth property to be restrained in recent years in the Slocan Valley.
In two of the matters, a judge ordered forfeiture of the properties, wholly in one case and partially in another, as offence-related property.
The other two matters are before the courts and, upon the completion of the criminal proceedings, applications will be made for the forfeiture of these properties as well.
Police will be continuing with drug enforcement as this is a priority for the detachment and the RCMP.
Information regarding anyone involved in the illegal production or trafficking of drugs, or the unlawful possession of firearms, are encouraged to contact either the Slocan Lake RCMP Detachment at 250-358-2222 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
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