CN - Valley properties forfeited for marijuana grow-ops

Valley properties forfeited for marijuana grow-ops

Published: May 18, 2009 5:00 AM
Updated: May 18, 2009 11:55 AM

Valley RCMP and the courts continue their attacks on the proceeds of crime.

For the second time in two weeks the courts have ordered the forfeiture of properties in the North Thompson Valley after police found major marijuana grow operations on them.

On April 30 in Kamloops a judge ordered Klondike Elston, age 48, to forfeit a small ranch located near Little Fort.

Elston was also sentenced to nine months in jail, two years of probation, plus given a lifetime firearms ban. He was described by his lawyer as an outstanding citizen of Blue River.

The forfeiture and jail sentence resulted from a police search in April, 2007, that found 1,400 growing plants in a sophisticated hydroponics operation. There was also evidence of previous harvests.

The assessed value of the ranch was put at $400,000.

In another instance, Travis Cowell agreed to forfeit his portion of a house and property on Highway 5 near Birch Island to avoid going to jail. He had been found guilty in a Kamloops court of production of a controlled substance and possession of a restricted/prohibited weapon.

Cowell and Sebastien Verrier were sentenced to a one-year conditional sentence, which means they will spend their time at home rather than in jail.

Their charges were laid after police searched the Birch Island property and found over 1,500 marijuana plants in the basement.

A stay of proceedings was entered for a third subject arrested as a result of the operation.

Police say their will be more property forfeitures in the future as a result of valley grow-op convictions.