B.C. seeks $6M in properties allegedly tied to illegal crab sales

The B.C. government is seeking forfeiture of properties valued at more than $6 million that it alleges were tied to a scheme to sell illegally crabs that were meant for food for First Nations.

In a lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court, the province alleges two commercial properties in Richmond, a house in Vancouver and a pickup truck, are the instruments and proceeds of “unlawful activity” linked to the illegal crab sales.

“Proceeds of unlawful activity include property that is acquired directly or indirectly from unlawful activity,” says the civil forfeiture claim.

The director of civil forfeiture alleges money from the crab sales was laundered through the commercial and residential properties.

Named in the suit are Jamin Chiong, who sold the crab to seafood wholesaler Million Ocean Seafood Ltd., and the owners of that company, Tsz Wah Fok, Peng Lin and Tak Yi Tong.

None of those named in the suit have responded and the allegations have not been proven in court.

The mortgaged properties include commercial Units 230 and 240 at 2088 No. 5 Rd. in Richmond owned by Numbered Co. 1092825 B.C. Ltd., whose three directors operate Million Ocean Seafood Ltd., and a house owned at 555 East 53rd Ave. in Vancouver by the crab-seller Chiong and his wife.

The commercial properties in Richmond are valued at nearly $3.89 million and the house in Vancouver at $2.19 million, according to B.C. property records.

In its forfeiture suit, the province outlined that in spring 2020, DFO officers caught Chiong selling live crab to Million Ocean Seafood under licences issued to First Nations that permit fishing only for food, social and ceremonial purposes. Crab caught under these licences cannot be sold. Chiong had obtained the crab from First Nation crabbers, according to the province's claim.