A ruse is not a Charter violation, B.C. court rules in extradition case involving fake cocaine and undercover cop
Falling for a ruse isn’t a defence against extradition, a British Columbia court ruled recently in a case involving undercover cops and lots of fake cocaine.
The provincial Court of Appeal ruled this week on an extradition case involving police in Vancouver and members of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The investigation that was the subject of the appeal involved what the court described as "an undercover controlled delivery of imitation cocaine" back in 2014.
Court documents say authorities set up Wayne Steven Hollaus with a suitcase containing 26 kilograms of what he thought was cocaine.
At the time, Hollaus was not the direct target of the U.S. investigation. Authorities were going after David Oliynyk, though they expected to also nab known associates including Hollaus.
- Read more on Oliynyk's case: Hells Angels back tattoo, undercover agent part of B.C. extradition case
Homeland Security told the Vancouver Police Department it had intercepted a shipment of actual cocaine, which they alleged Hollaus and Oliynyk had been directed to pick up in California and bring into B.C.
Homeland Security asked for co-operation in Vancouver in an operation local police dubbed Tuxedo 25. Court documents do not explain the name.
Vancouver police agreed to go along with it, and an undercover officer placed the suitcase in the truck of a car. That officer then called a number, which was provided by Homeland Security and allegedly belonged to a phone known to be used by Oliynyk to arrange for cocaine deliveries to Vancouver, and let the person who answered know that the cocaine was ready to be picked up. The officer gave instructions, then Vancouver police monitored what happened next.
Authorities told the court a VPD surveillance team then watched the two men go to the location, place the fake coke in their vehicle and drive off.
The next part of the ruse involved officers pulling the driver over and telling the men they were being arrested for possession for the purpose of trafficking. To avoid jeopardizing the U.S. investigation, officers were told to lie about how they were tipped off.
The officers were told to tell the men in the vehicle they'd had a 911 call from an unknown source who saw them grab the suitcase, put it in their vehicle and take off.
Because of the ties to the U.S., Hollaus' extradition has been requested by American authorities. He appeared before the Vancouver courtroom Wednesday after arguing against being sent to the States.
Hollaus has not been convicted of anything. The purpose of his court appearances in B.C. have been focused on the extradition, not to determine guilt or innocence.
He and his legal team argued the ruse "tainted" his rights outlined in Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He argued several other Charter violations, and said he should have been, but wasn't, informed of the U.S. investigation.
His team also argued his arrest was unlawful.
Ultimately, the court sided against him and dismissed the appeal.
The trio of judges said there were reasonable grounds for the arrest given what police knew at the time: he'd picked up a suitcase that he thought was full of cocaine.
That made him arrestable, the judges said, for the Canadian offence of attempted possession for the purpose of trafficking.
He was advised he was under arrest for possession, rather than attempted possession, for the purpose of trafficking, but the judges felt that gave him notice of the jeopardy he faced and did not breach his rights.
They also shut down the argument that the ruse itself was a Charter violation.
Oliynyk, too, appealed his case, which involved connections with the Hells Angels and a drug-smuggler-turned-witness, but the court ruled he should be extradited.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
'It’s discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.