One of Malakwa’s most valuable real estate listings is no longer on the market.
To the general public, the 6,600-square foot home at 3621 Northway Rd. that serves as the residence of convicted drug trafficker Colin Martin and his common-law wife Jennifer Cahill could be had for the asking price of $1.75 million.
But the listing was abruptly pulled off the market last Thursday. A B.C. Supreme Court order is prohibiting the sale of the residence. Issued in October, the order resulted from an application by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada and the RCMP’s Integrated Proceeds of Crime Section.
Land Title records list numbered company 311165 B.C. Ltd. as the owner of the residential property. The company’s director is listed as Steve Ambrose of Sicamous.
When contacted, Ambrose wondered why a restraining order would be placed on property he owns based on behaviour of his tenants, Cahill and Martin.
“I’ve never been charged, arrested or even questioned about any of this by the RCMP,” Ambrose stated.
“So why is the RCMP trying to seize a rental home from an individual because of a small amount of marijuana that was found in possession of one of the tenants? As far as I know, this is the first time in Canada the RCMP has tried to do this.”
Ambrose says he intends to appeal the court order barring him from selling.
“The grow op was not found on my property but on another property adjacent to this parcel. I have nothing to do with that property. And now I can’t sell my rental home.”
At one time, Cahill was listed as the home’s registered owner. The Observer was unable to contact her for comment before press time.
The ownership was transferred to the numbered company owned by Ambrose in 2005. Ambrose says he did not buy the property from Cahill, but from another company, Lillooet Management.
The four-plus bedroom home, with geothermal heating, three gas fireplaces, steel appliances, wood and tile floors and alarm system, as well as another detached residence currently under construction on the 6.25 acre lot had been on the market since Oct. 12.
The secluded residential property, as well as a workshop on an adjacent property at 3661 Northway Rd., was the location of a police raid in July 2010. Underneath the workshop, investigators found a bunker containing about 3,000 marijuana plants.
In addition to the plants, a related court document states that 458.5 grams of dried marijuana were found in a freezer and en suite of the residence at 3621 Northway Rd. In the same document, Justice Edward Chiasson notes the adjacent property with the workshop was leased to Gorge Timber Ltd., of which Cahill is president and secretary.
The investigation resulted in the arrests of Martin, Cahill and Jason Airey, and the three were subsequently charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession for the purpose of trafficking, and theft of telecommunication service.
A trial date for Martin, Cahill and Airey is expected to be determined in Salmon Arm court on Feb. 16.