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Money seized in alleged illegal gambling den in Richmond

A noise complaint led to an allegation by Richmond RCMP of illegal gambling.
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The civil forfeiture office is claiming more than $4,200 should be kept by the province from a man allegedly found in an illegal gaming house in Richmond.

Following up on a noise complaint in November 2020, Richmond RCMP claim they found evidence of an illegal gaming house on General Currie Avenue.

While officers were talking to the property owner, they allege they saw two large casino tables, poker chips and two men sitting at the poker table.

The RCMP then executed a search warrant and found several casino tables, chips and cards, gaming transaction ledgers, Canadian currency rolled up with ketamine (also known as Special K or Kit Kat), 21.5 grams of ketamine, 18 grams of methamphetamine, 80 MDMA (ecstasy) pills as well as drug paraphernalia and packaging material.

After arresting Xin Zhuang for being in an illegal gaming house, they seized the money, in total, $4,267.

On July 22, Zhuang filed a dispute over the money, so on Aug. 10, the director of the civil forfeiture office filed a claim in B.C. Supreme Court against him, saying the money should be turned over to the province because it was the proceeds of illegal activity.

The office cited three reasons for keeping the money: they claim that it was found in an illegal gaming house, that it was the proceeds of crime and that a failure to declare taxable income occurred.

The property owner was originally charged with two counts of running a betting or gaming house, but these charges were stayed on June 29.

None of the civil forfeiture claims have been proven in court.