Controlled Drugs and Substances Act

Marginal note:Notice

• 19 (1) Before making an order under subsection 16(1) or 17(2) in relation to any property, a court shall require notice in accordance with subsection (2) to be given to, and may hear, any person who, in the opinion of the court, appears to have a valid interest in the property.

• Marginal note:Manner of giving notice

  (2) A notice shall

  • (a) be given in the manner that the court directs or that may be specified in the rules of the court;

  • (b) specify the period that the court considers reasonable or that may be set out in the rules of the court during which a person may make an application to the court asserting their interest in the property; and

  • (c) set out the designated substance offence charged and a description of the property.

• Marginal note:Order of restoration of property

  (3) Where a court is satisfied that any person, other than

  • (a) a person who was charged with a designated substance offence, or

  • (b) a person who acquired title to or a right of possession of the property from a person referred to in paragraph (a) under circumstances that give rise to a reasonable inference that the title or right was transferred for the purpose of avoiding the forfeiture of the property,

  is the lawful owner or is lawfully entitled to possession of any property or any part of any property that would otherwise be forfeited pursuant to an order made under subsection 16(1) or 17(2) and that the person appears innocent of any complicity in an offence referred to in paragraph (a) or of any collusion in relation to such an offence, the court may order that the property or part be returned to that person.