A quiet Richmond condo and a seemingly ordinary BMW are at the center of a sweeping investigation, as authorities move to seize over $1 million in assets allegedly tied to a sophisticated drug operation plaguing the Lower Mainland.
In September, a specialized RCMP unit, known as CLEAR, executed raids on properties in Richmond and Surrey, uncovering a chilling arsenal: nearly five kilograms of fentanyl and cocaine, alongside automatic assault rifles and a substantial cache of cash – totaling $86,000. The operation revealed a network deeply involved in the production and distribution of deadly narcotics.
A civil claim filed in B.C. Supreme Court details the province’s intent to permanently forfeit a $937,000 condo on McNeely Drive in Richmond, the 2022 BMW sedan, and the illicit funds. Authorities allege these are the direct “proceeds and instruments” of unlawful activity, painting a picture of a lucrative criminal enterprise.
Inside the Richmond condo, investigators discovered not only the cash and 200 grams of cocaine, but also suspicious powdered substances, a money counter, five cellphones, two laptops, and detailed records of sales, debts, and collections. The evidence suggests a meticulously organized operation, focused on profit.
The condo is registered to Tan Ping Ben Ng, alongside Yuen Mai Alice Li and Marco Lok Tin Ng, all named in the forfeiture suit. Investigators believe Marco Ng is the “beneficial owner” of the BMW, registered to a company called F&J Management, and that the family resided together at the Richmond property.
Evidence suggests Marco Ng was instrumental in the operation, frequently using the BMW to purchase materials essential for drug production. Surveillance placed the vehicle at both the Richmond condo and the Surrey property, solidifying the connection to the wider network.
The Surrey raid yielded an even more alarming discovery: 13 firearms, including a .50-calibre long gun and multiple semi-automatic assault rifles, alongside a massive quantity of precursor chemicals – 206 litres of gamma-butyrolactone, a key ingredient in fentanyl production. Fourteen kilograms of suspected fentanyl were also seized.
While one individual was briefly detained at the Richmond site and later released without charges, the investigation continues to unravel the complex web of individuals involved. The province alleges the defendants engaged in drug production, trafficking, money laundering, and tax evasion.
Notably, no criminal charges have yet been laid against the individuals named in the civil claim. This highlights a key difference between criminal prosecution and civil forfeiture, where the standard of proof is lower – a balance of probabilities, rather than beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is not isolated. Throughout 2024 and 2025, RCMP have systematically dismantled numerous drug labs across the Lower Mainland and beyond. The investigation leading to the Richmond and Surrey raids stemmed from an earlier case, demonstrating a proactive approach to combating the escalating drug crisis.
Earlier this year, three fentanyl production labs were discovered in Pitt Meadows, Mission, Aldergrove, Langley, and Richmond, resulting in two arrests. Last October, authorities seized a record-breaking amount of drugs in Falkland, east of Kamloops – 54 kilograms of fentanyl, 390 kilograms of methamphetamine, and a staggering arsenal of 89 firearms, including explosives.
While criminal charges are pursued in these busts, the province also utilizes civil forfeiture to target the financial backbone of these operations. This practice, however, remains controversial, with critics arguing it allows for the seizure of assets without a criminal conviction.
Despite the debate, a government-commissioned inquiry into money laundering, the Cullen inquiry, actually recommended expanding the Civil Forfeiture Office’s operations in 2022, recognizing its potential as a tool to disrupt organized crime and reclaim illicit funds.
The unfolding case serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive threat posed by drug trafficking and the lengths to which authorities are willing to go to dismantle these networks and reclaim the proceeds of criminal activity.
