Saanich police will use this 2012 Dodge Charger for community events. The car was seized during an investigation of drug-trade violence in Surrey and Delta in August 2015 and forfeited with the consent of the owner.
Saanich Police will arrive at local events in a flashy new ride that was taken by the province during a drug bust nearly three years ago.
Officers in Saanich will get to use a 2012 Dodge Charger SRT-8 with the caption “seized from a drug dealer” on the trunk of the car.
“Seized from a drug dealer” on the back of a 2012 Dodge Charger that will be used by Saanich police for community events.
The vehicle was taken by police in August 2015 in an investigation of drug-trade violence in Surrey and Delta and given up with the consent of the owner.
The black muscle car that Saanich Police says features a custom wrap, a V8 rumble and a powerful stereo will participate in school visits, parades, music in the park and other events.
Check out our newest ride #Saanich #yyj #yyjtraffic! It has a 6.4L HEMI V8 with 465 horsepower. The best part? It was seized from a drug dealer ? https://t.co/2dSeYQ3twB pic.twitter.com/TnjXADropj
— Saanich Police (@SaanichPolice) June 25, 2018
The Saanich department will get two years to use the Charger and can apply for an extension or return it to the province.
The use of the vehicle is part of the B.C. Civil Forfeiture program that tries to weaken profits of illegal activity by taking away tools and proceeds, with a vast majority of cases linked to drugs, gangs and organized crime.
Between the 2006/07 fiscal year and now, forfeitures have totalled $82 million, out of which grants in support of crime prevention and remediation initiatives total $37.5 million and victim compensation totals $1.63 million. That compensation is for victims who have suffered losses directly as a result of unlawful activity that forms the basis of a forfeiture claim – example, victims of a fraudulent investment scheme where the fraudster’s account has been seized by law enforcement and referred to our office for forfeiture.
Items forfeited to the province have included high-end vehicles, custom motorcycles, helicopters, commercial and residential properties, cash and jewellery. The first vehicle that was loaned to a police agency in support of community outreach events was a Hummer H2, which was loaned to the Abbotsford Police Department. The Charger that is being loaned to Saanich Police is the 24th vehicle that has been made available to B.C. police and domestic violence agencies.
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