BC government looks to seize woman's Mercedes over alleged drug activity

The province’s director of civil forfeiture has applied to BC Supreme Court to take ownership of a vehicle that it says belongs to a Prince George woman involved in the drug trade.

The director, represented by lawyer Natasha Roth, filed a May 29 notice of civil claim in the Victoria registry of the BC Supreme Court against the the owners and all others interested in a vehicle, a 2012 Mercedes ML350, “in particular Tamara Brook Sommerfeld.”

Sommerfeld is accused of engaging in drug trafficking on Aug. 15, 2024 in Prince George and using the vehicle “to make a short-duration drug transaction.”

The notice of civil claim alleges an RCMP officer stopped the vehicle and Sommerfeld was arrested for possession for the purpose of trafficking. Officers said they found eight grams of cocaine and $760 in Canadian cash. The RCMP seized the vehicle but later returned it to Sommerfeld.

The director also claims the Mercedes was used on Dec. 7, 2024 to “facilitate drug trafficking” in Prince George. Sommerfeld was the front seat passenger when pulled over by an RCMP officer and arrested for possession for the purpose of trafficking.

The director said the vehicle contained: 17.96 g of psilocybin; 21.51 g of fentanyl; 113.14 g of cocaine; 16.49 g of methamphetamine; brass knuckle; spiked knuckle; cellphone; and, $120.50 in Canadian cash.

Prince George RCMP seized the vehicle. After the director began administrative forfeiture proceedings, the office received a notice of dispute on May 9.

“The vehicle is proceeds and an instrument of unlawful activity,” said the court filing. “The vehicle has been used by T. Sommerfeld to engage in unlawful activities which variously resulted in, or were likely to result in, the acquisition of property or an interest in property, or caused, or could have resulted in serious bodily harm.”

The director seeks a judge’s order that the vehicle and its proceeds be forfeited to the government.

None of the allegations has been proven in court and there is yet to be a statement of defence.