B.C. seeks forfeiture of two properties worth $1.8M

The province seeks to have forfeited two Chilliwack properties valued at $1.8 million that are allegedly linked to drug trafficking and money laundering.

In a notice of application filed in B.C. Supreme Court, the B.C. Civil Forfeiture Office alleges the two homes are proceeds of crime and used to engage in unlawful activity that included drug trafficking of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and ketamine.

“Some or all the funds used to acquire and/or maintain the properties were proceeds of the unlawful activity,” says the forfeiture claim filed on Dec. 17.

“By converting the proceeds of the unlawful activity into the properties, the properties were used by the defendants as an instrument of unlawful activity, namely, the laundering of proceeds of crime,” says the claim.

The accusations also include the failure to declare taxable income.

Named in the suit are Cody Daniel Thiessen, Candace Marion Peggy Thiessen and James Potgieter.

The Thiessens own one of the Chilliwack properties the province seeks to have forfeited, at 8393 Chelmsford Place, valued at $1.1 million, according to B.C. Assessment Authority records. Potgieter owns the other property at 5541 Alpine Crescent, valued at $704,000. Both properties are mortgaged.

None of the defendants have been charged criminally in relation to the accusations outlined in the forfeiture suit, according to a search of B.C. online court records.

Civil forfeiture actions can be launched without criminal charges being laid. The threshold for proving a civil forfeiture claim is lower than for a criminal conviction, a balance of probabilities instead of beyond-a-reasonable-doubt.

According to the forfeiture suit, the Chilliwack RCMP began an investigation in November 2019 into a drug trafficking ring.

During the investigation, several individuals were identified as working for Cody Thiessen and Potgieter to traffic drugs, according to the forfeiture claim.

The RCMP obtained search warrants on cellphones and observed communications with Thiessen and Potgieter consistent with drug trafficking, according to the forfeiture suit.

During the investigation the RCMP executed search warrants at “stash” properties and located bulk quantities of illegal drugs, large amounts of cash, several cellphones, firearms and ammunition.