The City of Kamloops has a Porsche. Here's where it came from
The City of Kamloops is trying to show that crime doesn't pay by displaying a newly acquired Porsche that was originally obtained by crime.
It will be on display during the Hot Nite in the City car show this weekend, where it will be branded with City of Kamloops logos and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit's "#EndGangLife" logos.
The city said it's an example of a "criminal asset that was seized due to gang life," and hopes it will dissuade other people from joining the gang.
iNFOnews.ca has tracked the asset through a very lengthy registry of property and cash seized by police who believed they were obtained by crime.
The 2008 Porsche Cayman was given to the City through a provincial grant after it was seized from an illegal gambling ring in the Lower Mainland.
On Nov. 5, 2021, the province's anti-gang squad seized three vehicles from properties in Burnaby and Richmond. The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit arrested a man and a woman, accused of loan-sharking and money laundering, according to a news release at the time.
READ MORE: Province aims to seize alleged Lake Country drug dealer's home
Two suspects laundered more than $828,000 in Canadian cash, culminating with investigators executing "a number of" search warrants on Nov. 5, police said.
Their Joint Illegal Gambling Investigation unit seized score sheets with client names and payment due dates, four cell phones, two bank drafts totaling $50,000 and more than $10,000 in cash, along with the three vehicles.
"Illegal gaming activities undermine the integrity of our financial institutions and allow criminals to secure the proceeds of crime not just for personal benefit but to fuel additional crimes. Enforcement action such as this one has a strong immediate impact and long-term disruption implications," Insp. Mandeep Mooker of the illegal gambling investigations said in the news release.
A 33-year-old Richmond woman and a 49-year-old Vancouver man were arrested at the time. Spokesperson Sgt. Brenda Winpenny said neither of them have been charged as of Aug. 9 and did not provide any updates while it's still under investigation.
Winpenny also confirmed a 2008 Porsche Cayman was seized and forfeited to the province as a result of the investigation.
READ MORE: Province wants $160K cash, drugs from Penticton couple despite no charges
The car was provided through a grant from the BC Civil Forfeiture Office, aiming to show "the gang lifestyle may appear to be luxurious," but it's far from it, according to the release. The City wants to deter youth from getting swayed into a criminal life with money and luxury goods.
READ MORE: B.C.'s plans to expand civil forfeiture program called unconstitutional
"So you get to live in fear, you get to have all these nice toys and all this money, but at any day the civil forfeiture branch can come and try to seize your assets, or you get arrested or a rival gang comes and kills you," the city's crime prevention manager Will Beatty said.
Because it has a manual transmission, only authorized staff will be allowed to drive the Porsche, typically employees with the city's crime prevention office, bylaw supervisors and senior RCMP leadership.
Although the city partnered with the Combined Forces unit to promote the anti-gang life message on its new Porsche, neither police nor the Civil Forfeiture office told the City where the car came from.
The Civil Forfeiture Office seizes things used for the purposes of crime or were purchased with the proceeds of crime, sometimes holding onto cars, cash and even homes before the accused is convicted or charged.
It's not clear how much of the grant is attributed to the Porsche, but it was a roughly $50-70,000 car when new.
While the car came from the province, the City is also using a $2 million federal grant for "community-led projects" to combat gun and gang violence in youths and the Porsche will be included in that effort, according to the release.
City staff, Kamloops RCMP and Tk'emlups te Secwepemc are developing a three-year plan to address gang involvement and crime among youths.
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