Almost $10,000, seized by Richmond RCMP from a man leaving Water Cube last August, is claimed by police to be proceeds of crime.
On a patrol last August at the establishment on No. 3 Road, RCMP ran the plate of a 2018 Acura.
The registered owner was a woman, but it was being driven by Richard Bui, accompanied by Brian Vu. The RCMP stopped the car to check the identity of the driver and to see if he had a valid license.
The claim of civil forfeiture, filed in mid-January, states RCMP noticed a smell of cannabis in the car. They then searched the car within arm’s length of the driver to see if there was any cannabis.
The police then found a flap of ketamine, a flap of cannabis shatter and $9,935 bundled with an elastic band, in a “manner not consistent with standard banking practices” in the centre console.
The RCMP arrested Bui for possession of a controlled substance and seized the money, but he has not been charged.
The claim is that the “money is proceeds and an instrument of unlawful activity.”
Bui has contested the seizure, and filed a notice of dispute to the civil forfeiture office.
Bui has yet not responded to the civil claim filed by the Director of Civil Forfeiture.
