of Supreme Court of Canada says the Crown can seek forfeiture of assets seized in a drug investigation even though criminal cases against most of the accused have been dropped.
The case began when several people were charged with offenses related to the production of cannabis in Quebec.
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One of the accused pleaded guilty and the charges against the others were stayed due to unreasonable delays.
The Crown applied to the court to confiscate assets, including money and homes, which were frozen or seized during the investigation.
The property owners unsuccessfully moved to dismiss the prosecution’s motion on the grounds that the court lacked authority to review the forfeiture because the proceedings were stayed.
The Quebec Court of Appeal then sided with the owners, ruling that the court lacked jurisdiction under the statutory provisions in question to hear the Crown’s forfeiture application.
&copies 2026 The Canadian Press
