Thursday March 30, 2023 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The BC government is targeting organized crime by creating a new suite of tools to seize proceeds of crime such as fast cars, glamorous homes and luxury goods, aiming to make gang life unprofitable.
Today BC has introduced legislation to create “Unexplained Wealth Orders”, following one of the money laundering recommendations from the Cullen Report last year.
The Civil Forfeiture Office would be able to apply in BC Supreme Court to force people to explain whether or not they are using proceeds of crime to buy/maintain vehicles, real estate and luxury goods.
This will be done through a number of amendments to the Civil Forfeiture Act, including the creation of unexplained wealth orders (UWOs). These orders will require people to explain how they acquired their assets if there is suspicion of unlawful activity.
Combating the glamour with the law:
The glamorous lifestyle of organized crime is ‘anything but’, says BC Public Safety Minister & Solicitor General Mike Farnworth.
The announcement about UWO’s was made today by Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “We have to keep up with that sophistication”, said Farnworth today regarding the sophisticated of organized crime.
This follows the work of former Attorney General David Eby — who is now BC’s 37th premier — who dug deep for several years to last summer eventually see the Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia Final Report – June 2022.
BC has explored what Manitoba has done with UWO’s as well the United Kingdom, for some lessons learned and ways forward.
Why this is being done:
Amendments have been made to the Civil Forfeiture Act, including the creation of unexplained wealth orders (UWO’s).
“These orders will require people to explain how they acquired their assets if there is suspicion of unlawful activity. They are a powerful tool that will help government pierce common money-laundering techniques, such as hiding assets with family members or associates, and removing the benefits of organized crime,” it was stated in today’s news release from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
“Money-laundering schemes have become increasingly sophisticated, and unexplained wealth orders will be a key tool in our toolbox to combat organized crime,” said Farnworth.
“By exposing property for forfeiture actions, we are removing this incentive and sending a clear message to anyone involved in organized crime that crime doesn’t pay,” he said.
Putting property like expensive homes into the name of a spouse or family member will not protect that person. “They don’t get to keep the house,” said Farnworth, admittedly being blunt about it.
Leads and who decides:
Leads on the suspicion of criminal funding being used for the purchase of expensive items (as a way to launder the funds) will likely mostly come through police work, but any details learned through the application of a UWO cannot be disclosed to police for use in criminal investigations, it was explained today.
The targeting of the funds is about getting the money back and using it for safety and community well-being, and frankly avoids the rabbit hole of going after criminals in court which is costly and often does not succeed.
Protecting the public:
In addition to enobling those in society who pay they way and do their fair share, Farnworth said that tracking down money-laundering through organized crime will help in other ways.
The work with UWO’s could make a dent in the illicit drug trade which is fueled by funds of organized crime, helping to minimize the impact of fentanyl and other drugs on the health of people in society.
Funds that are collected through the action of UWO’s would be applied to the costs of policing and to communities through grants for public safety and well-being.
===== RELATED:
Politicians & BCLC had turned a blind eye to money-laundering (June 15, 2022)