Drug and Money Offences

The lawyers at Filkow Law have extensive experience successfully defending all types of drug and money cases. Filkow Law brings its impressive resources and team of lawyers to each individual case. If you are being investigated or need a criminal drug lawyer, contact Filkow Law for assistance.

Drug Offences

Drug offences can range from simple possession to street trafficking or a dial-a-dope operation to a multi-jurisdictional smuggling business. Any drug offence is serious, but especially if large quantities or more dangerous drugs, such as fentanyl, are involved. It is essential to have experienced, professional counsel assist you.

Every drug offence begins with an investigation. The police may search a vehicle, a home or a commercial property sometimes with or without a search warrant. The police may also conduct undercover operations and surveillance in certain neighbourhoods or at musical festivals and raves.

Each type of evidence needs to be carefully considered for its admissibility and weight. A successful application to exclude evidence can result in an acquittal. The lawyers at Filkow Law have successfully argued for the exclusion of drugs and other evidence, winning in very difficult cases.

Civil Forfeiture

Drug related offences also often involve civil forfeiture proceedings. The Director of Civil Forfeiture has broad, sweeping powers to confiscate and forfeit anything that is suspected proceeds of unlawful activity or a suspected instrument of unlawful activity. This often includes money (proceeds of unlawful activity), vehicles that have been used to sell drugs and residences that have been used to store drugs (instruments of unlawful activity). During an investigation, the police may seize these items and forward them to the Director of Civil Forfeiture for permanent forfeiture rather than return them to the owner.

Civil forfeiture proceedings can be extremely difficult to dispute. Unlike in a criminal proceeding, the Director does not have to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, but rather, only on the lower standard of a balance of probabilities. People subject to civil forfeiture proceedings also, unlike in a criminal case, do not have the right to remain silent and may be subject to examination for discovery by the Director’s counsel. Further, the things seized might be presumed to be the proceeds or an instrument of unlawful activity, unless the person proves otherwise.

If you are the subject of civil forfeiture proceedings, contact our office for assistance.

Money Offences

The lawyers at Filkow Law have extensive experience successfully dealing with all types of money offences. Money offences such as theft and fraud can range from a charge of shoplifting to a theft from employer to large scale credit card fraud. A conviction for a money offence can be particularly damaging because they are offences relating to dishonesty.

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The lawyers at Filkow Law have frequently successfully argued for the exclusion of drugs and other evidence, winning in very difficult cases. The firm brings its impressive resources and employs a variety of strategies to each individual case. If you are being investigated for a money offence or need a criminal drug lawyer in Vancouver, contact Filkow Law for assistance.

If you need legal assistance, give us a call or simply text us your police, court or driving documents to our text line.

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