In a dramatic conclusion to a 16-year legal saga, the Canadian government has been granted permanent ownership of more than $1.2 million in cash that police discovered buried beneath a garage floor in rural Ontario, despite the property owner being found not guilty of criminal charges.
The Mysterious Discovery
The extraordinary case began in 2009 when Ontario Provincial Police officers executed a search warrant on a forest-surrounded property near Thunder Bay. While searching for a firearm that was never found, officers stumbled upon what one described as a flabbergasting discovery: massive amounts of hidden currency throughout the property.
The most remarkable find was a large Rubbermaid storage tub buried approximately 20 centimetres beneath the dirt floor of a detached garage. The container was stuffed with bundles of cash, primarily in $20 bills, packaged in $5,000 and $10,000 increments. In total, authorities seized $1,235,600 from various hiding spots including heating vents, suitcases, toolboxes, and under drawers.
Twisting Legal Battle
Marcel Breton, then 44 years old, was arrested and charged with drug offences and possession of property obtained by crime. Police reported finding cocaine, ecstasy pills, marijuana, and cannabis resin with an estimated street value of $22,000 alongside the cash.
The case took numerous unexpected turns through the justice system. Before his trial, Breton sought to use the seized money to fund his legal defense, telling the court in 2012: "The currency seized is mine. I was the only one who was aware of its location in the garage. I have no other assets or means available for the purpose of paying my reasonable legal expenses."
Adding another layer of complexity, the Canada Revenue Agency also claimed the money, noting Breton had failed to file tax returns from 2001 to 2009, with only one income statement showing $14,796 during that period.
Final Ruling After 16 Years
Despite the original criminal charges, Breton was ultimately found not guilty of possessing proceeds of crime and related offenses. Nevertheless, in a decision handed down on Monday after years of appeals, the court ruled the government could permanently keep the mysterious mounds of money.
The counting process alone took police 18 hours to complete, as some of the currency was mouldy, damp, and sticking together according to court testimony. The recent ruling marks the final chapter in a legal fight that spanned nearly two decades, leaving unanswered questions about the origin of the buried fortune while establishing a precedent for civil asset forfeiture in Canada.
