Pubdate: Tue, 21 September 1999
Source: Calgary Sun (Canada)
Copyright: 1999, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.canoe.ca/CalgarySun/
Forum: http://www.canoe.ca/Chat/home.html
Author: Kevin Martin

CROWN WANTS DRUG CASH

The Crown will seek to seize $200,000 in assets from a drug baron who ran
marijuana growing operations in seven different Calgary homes.

"This accused and his partner in crime, Javan Dowling, made considerable
profit," federal prosecutor Bob Sigurdson told Justice Sal LoVecchio.

Sigurdson said he will seek a forfeiture order under proceeds of crime
legislation when Mounib Mohamed Sayadi is sentenced Nov. 1.

Sayadi, 30, pleaded guilty yesterday to cultivation of a narcotic on the
first day of what was scheduled to be an eight-week drug conspiracy trial.

Sigurdson said Sayadi and Dowling oversaw a half-dozen growing operations in
residences throughout the city which yielded hundreds of marijuana plants.

The pair hired other individuals to act as "crop sitters" in the various
homes, in areas such as Lake MacKenzie, Douglasdale Estates and Arbour Lake.

Sigurdson said police began their investigation after RCMP in Banff seized
about $100,000 in cash from Dowling.

He said the accused was charged, arrested and released on bail before
starting his own hydroponics operation in a Harvest Hills home.

"This particular grow operation was described as one of the most
sophisticated that the Calgary police had located," said Sigurdson.

Following Sayadi's sentencing, the prosecutor said he will stay similar
charges laid against the accused's mother, Hala, wife Kristin Rikihana and a
brother, Wassim.

Another brother, Samer, will still face a trial at a later date, Sigurdson said.

Sayadi remains on bail pending his sentencing and forfeiture hearing.

Dowling has already been sentenced to four years and ordered to give up
$113,900 in assets seized by police. 

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