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News Release
Communiqué
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Ministry of the Attorney General
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Ministère du Procureur général
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For Immediate Release
November 22, 2006
ATTORNEY GENERAL SHUTS DOWN
ANOTHER HAMILTON CRACK HOUSE
Civil Asset Forfeiture Law Used To Seize Property And Assets
HAMILTON — An alleged crack house in a residential neighbourhood of
Hamilton and almost $20,000 in cash and cheques have been preserved
pending forfeiture proceedings under the Remedies for Organized Crime and
Other Unlawful Activities Act (Civil Remedies Act), Attorney General
Michael Bryant announced today.
"Another Hamilton crack house is out of business," said Bryant. "We have
a court order to temporarily take control of the building at 13
Beaconsfield Drive. This is an interim measure. I will be asking the
court to forfeit the property, cash and cheques as instruments and
proceeds of unlawful activity."
On November 17, 2006 the property and cash and cheques were preserved
under provincial civil remedies legislation. The court temporarily froze
the property on the basis that there were reasonable grounds to believe
that the property and assets were either an instrument or proceed of
unlawful activity. The judge granted an order giving the Crown temporary
control of the property and monies, pending the outcome of forfeiture
proceedings. All allegations must still be proven in court.
"Police believe that criminal activity involving illegal drugs has been
taking place at 13 Beaconsfield Drive," said Hamilton Police Chief Brian
Mullan. "Hamilton police are using every means to stop unlawful activity
and ensure our community's safety. We are grateful that the attorney
general is initiating a civil action to prevent victimization in our
community."
Chief Mullan will be at 13 Beaconsfield Drive at 11:30 a.m. today.
The Civil Remedies Act authorizes the attorney general to ask civil
courts to freeze, seize and forfeit the proceeds and instruments of
unlawful activity to the Crown. Civil asset forfeiture focuses solely on
the connection between property and unlawful activity and is not
dependant on any criminal charges or convictions. The legislation acts to
prevent people from keeping assets acquired through unlawful activity, to
prevent assets and property from being used to engage in further unlawful
activities, and to compensate victims.
Since November 2003, the province has collected on forfeitures totaling
$2.5 million in assets. The province currently has $8.4 million (net) in
assets frozen under this act.
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Contacts:
Brendan Crawley
Ministry of the Attorney General
Communications Branch
(416) 326-2210
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Disponible en français
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