'Drug Tunnel' Home for Sale

For $599,900, you could own the rural Aldergrove property that once
housed a drug tunnel allegedly used to smuggle "B.C. Bud" across the
U.S. border.

Royal LePage's Paola Oliviero has listed the 3.79-acre parcel which
features the notorious quonset hut that the tunnel was built from.
All offers for the property are subject to court approval, said Oliviero.

The listing information, found on Multiple LIsting Services and her
website, doesn't mention that the property at 26717 - 0 Avenue, was
the subject of a huge American/Canadian investigation in July. Three
Surrey men were arrested by American authorities as they emerged
from the tunnel on the U.S. side in July 2005. The men were allegedly
carrying 200 pounds of B.C. Bud.

"Most people interested in the listing know about it. But I always
tell them about the property's history," said Oliviero.

The property's notoriety doesn't deter potential buyers, she said.
"There's serious interest from local people. We don't have an offer
yet but it will sell. It's a prime piece of property in a hot
market," she said.

The investigation into the tunnel started in Canada in February 2005,
when authorities were tipped off that a group of known suspects were
planning to build a tunnel.

The tunnel was dug by hand over eight months and stretched underneath
0 Avenue to the floor of a farm house in Washington state.

After the bust, the Township sealed the Canadian side of the tunnel
with cement and foam at a cost of $35,000 to taxpayers. It's hoping
to recover those costs.

Francis Davandra Raj is the listed owner of the Canadian property. He
is one of three Surrey men charged with conspiracy to distribute and
import marijuana. They are currently in custody in Washington. The
property was foreclosed by Olympia Trust Co. of Vancouver.

If an offer comes in, it is held in trust and then that offer goes to
court, Oliviero explains.

Interested buyers can still make a sealed bid once it's in the
judge's hands.

Once the property is sold people are paid out in order of priority.
The mortgage is paid first, then taxes are paid on the property and
any arrears, which is where the Township could recoup its money. Then
lawyers and realtors are paid.

The Raj family is also looking to be reimbursed for money they loaned
the accused to buy the place.

The property has a small farm house, with approximately 40,000 square
feet of greenhouse plus a workshop and outbuildings, according to the
listing.