 The federal government has seized more than $281 million in assets from criminal activity across Canada. Makes of cars seized ranged from junks heaps to high end luxury vehicles. (handout, file)
|
OTTAWA -- They've seized enough real estate to house a small village. They could open a used-car lot with the vehicles they have stashed away in secret warehouses or feed a small town with all the hydroponics equipment.
Documents obtained under the Access to Information law reveal the federal government is sitting on more than $281 million in assets seized from crooks across Canada.
They also reveal the value of goods seized and being managed by federal authorities is on the rise.
Quarterly reports for the Seized Property Management Directorate, the government body that manages goods seized by police until the case is dealt with by the courts, show the value of assets under management rose to $281.4 million on Dec. 31, 2008 from $261.4 million only six months earlier on June 30.
VALUE RISING
Government officials say the value of the assets being managed is rising because police are seizing proceeds of crime and equipment connected to crimes faster than the courts are dealing with the cases.
Moreover, the full value of the goods in government hands is likely even higher.
Documents obtained by researcher Ken Rubin show many valuable items listed in the more than 800-page inventory of seized property have no value assigned to them or a nominal value of $1.
Combing through the list of things police have seized provides a fascinating glimpse inside the lives of the rich and infamous, from drug kingpins and leaders of biker gangs to those of less flamboyant crooks.
Cars range from beaters barely worth a couple of hundred dollars to luxury vehicles like eight Hummer H2s (almost always black), Dodge Vipers, Porsches, BMWs and the most valuable -- a 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL55 convertible that the government estimates is worth $134,000.
Harley-Davidsons are the most popular motorcycle in the seized goods inventory, including a vintage 1948 Harley Custom Chopper worth $47,106.
There are all-terrain vehicles, Ski-Doos, Sea-Doos, speedboats, planes and even a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter with an estimated value of more than $300,000 and a speedboat the government says is worth $200,000.
Jewelry includes Rolex and Breitling watches worth thousands of dollars each, more than a dozen wedding rings and $935,011 worth of precious stones. In keeping with the international nature of organized crime, police have seized cash in at least 36 different currencies.
TANNING BEDS
Household furniture includes leather sofas, a wide range of audio-visual equipment, guitars and even a couple of tanning beds.
The inventory list also shows some of the people whose goods have been seized aren't exactly Boy Scouts.
"Steel knife, brass knuckles, various revolvers, shotgun and pellet pistol," reads one line; "3 nunchuks, 2 blowguns, 6 pistol crossbows, 12 Shurikens, 40 brass knuckles," reads another.
There was even one Taser pistol seized and destroyed.
While some of the things seized are predictable, there are more unusual items such as $10,000 worth of Disney animation prints, a school bus, a muscle stimulator, a 40-ft. shipping container, registered educational savings plans, cheques made out after telemarketing calls, a police scanner and 14 birthday invitations.
However, officials say those aren't the most unusual items ever seized by police and turned over to them.
That title goes to a herd of red deer and elk which is no longer in inventory.
ELIZABETH.THOMPSON@SUNMEDIA.CA
