A group of property owners linked to a large-scale cannabis operation and firearms seizure could lose some real estate to the provincial government as alleged proceeds of crime.
B.C.'s Civil Forfeiture Office filed a notice of claim this week seeking to seize four pieces of property - one in the Hart, one in the Buckhorn-Red Rock area and two in Cluculz Lake - as well as a diamond ring linked to the uncovering by police of three cannabis grow operations from which guns, cash and valuables were also seized.
According to the claim, on Feb. 24, 2021, the B.C. Combined Forces Special Investigation Unit executed search warrants on 1590 Fir St., 12855 Eagle Crest Rd. 6695 Westmount Cres., 7805 Latrobe Cres., 51035 Cluculz Place and 18795 Cariboo Hwy.
Grow operations adding up to more than 900 plants were uncovered on at the Fir Street, Eagle Crest Road and Cariboo Highway properties. Police also seized more than 168 kilograms of processed cannabis in various forms along with $45,570 in cash, 28 grams of psilocybin, 11 grams of MDMA, some 150 pills of the anabolic steroid oxandrolone, 64 tablets of LSD and 384 tablets of tadalafil, used to treat erectile dysfunction. Quantities of yohimbrine, also used to treat erectile dysfunction, the weight loss pill sibutramine and caffeine pills were also seized as was an assortment of allegedly drug-related paraphernalia.
In terms of firearms, the claim says a handgun was seized from the Fir Street property and a total of 21 rifles and six shotguns along with assorted types of ammunition were seized from the Cariboo Highway property.
A cellphone belonging to one of the defendants, Derek Charles MacNicol Timmins, and containing a photo of Timmins, his spouse, Mary Elizabeth Timmins, and Hells Angels Motorcycle Club members was also found at the Cluculz Place property, according to the claim.
The CFO is seeking seizure of 12855 Eagle Crest Road, 18795 Cariboo Hwy. and 51035 Cluculz Place as well as 51055 Cluculz Place, a bare lot located next door.
In all, nine people are named as defendants: Derek and Mary Timmins, Andrew-Norman Scott, Terry Arnold Giles, Eileen Mary Rich, David James Wilson, Janet Irene Wilson, Garth Goodkey and Reachelle Christine Goodkey, also known as Reachelle Christine Becvar.
In the notice, Scott is listed as the registered owner of 12855 Eagle Crescent property, Derek and Mary Timmins as owners of 51035 Cluculz Place, Giles Rich and Mary Timmins as owners of 51055 Cluculz Place, David and Janet Wilson as owners of 18795 Cariboo Hwy.
Garth Goodkey and Mary Timmins are listed as owners of 1590 Fir St. at the "material times" but the property is not among those the CFO is targeting. The 7804 Latrobe Cres. property is also not on that list.
According to the notice, the search warrants were executed as part of an investigation that began in November 2018.
According to the notice, between Jan. 30, 2020 and Feb. 5, 2021, Goodkey sold quantities of cannabis, ranging from three to five pounds and cocaine ranging from one to 10 ounces, to a police agent. And, during that time, he sold an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and "a prohibited firearms, namely a semi-automatic AK-47."
Derek Timmins, meanwhile, is listed has having sold cocaine to a police agent four times between Oct. 3, 2020 and Jan. 13, 2021, ranging from six to 15 ounces in quantities.
The notice of claim was filed five days after the B.C. Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit issued a press release saying four men and one woman had been arrested in connection with the execution of seven search warrants in February 2021. Names of the five were not released and criminal charges remained pending.
On Thursday, CFSEU spokesperson Staff Sergeant Lindsey Houghton confirmed the CFO's notice of claim stems from the same investigation.
In the release, the CFSEU said 1.7 kilograms of cocaine, over 70 kilograms of cannabis and cannabis resin, 958 cannabis plants, over 3,000 pills of various types, MDMA, LSD, 29 firearms and ammunition, $40,000 in Canadian currency, a money counter, three trucks, and a ring valued at over $100,000 were seized.
The action seeking forfeiture is a civil process where the CFO must prove on a balance of probability that the properties are proceeds of illegal activity. In contrast, to secure a criminal conviction the Crown must prove beyond reasonable doubt that an offence was committed, which is a higher standard.
