Drug-ferrying helicopter seized: RCMP

Police have seized a helicopter they say was used to ferry drugs across the Canada-U.S. border in the Nelson area in southeast B.C.

The Bell 206-B Jet Ranger was seized last week from a rural property near Nelson and moved to an R.C.M.P. compound, police said Monday.

'We want the courts to hit criminals right in the wallet' RCMP Sgt. Dennis Blanch

Investigators have had their eye on the helicopter since September of 2007 after launching several investigations involving drug trafficking, RCMP said.

The helicopter with an estimated value of $200,000 was painted black and its back seats had been removed. RCMP alleged the aircraft was moved to a number of different rural locations in southeast B.C. where it was used to transport illegal drugs.

Helicoptermight be sold

The aircraft was being held pending a court ruling on whether it could be auctioned off under provincial law that allows the authorities to seize property used for crime.

"The civil forfeiture process is a powerful tool in the law enforcement arsenal," said Sgt. Dennis Blanch of the RCMP Border Integrity Program.

"We want the courts to hit criminals right in the wallet and, in this case, take away an expensive asset that assists them in trafficking controlled drugs."

No charges have been laid in connection with the seizure and none of the allegations about how it was used have been proven in court.