Man found with kilos of cocaine and HA ‘propaganda’: government lawsuit

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A man arrested last October north of Kamloops had more than five kilograms of cocaine, three firearms and “propaganda supporting” the Hells Angels in his truck, a lawsuit filed by the British Columbia government alleges.

The statement of claim naming Nicolas Kostadinos Karvelis says a 2017 Dodge Ram pickup truck he was driving at the time should be confiscated to the government as an instrument of illegal activity.

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Karvelis was driving on Highway 5 in McLure when he was stopped by Southeast District RCMP “conducting a roadside check for impaired driving and vehicle suitability” on Oct. 17, according to the lawsuit filed by the director of civil forfeiture. BC.

“The RCMP stopped the vehicle as it entered the roadblock and observed illicit tobacco products visible inside the vehicle,” the lawsuit alleges.

Karvelis was then arrested “for possession of unsealed tobacco in contravention of the Excise Act.”

During the search, police found his passport, “a black duffel bag containing several kilograms of cocaine in two shopping bags,” “two automatic rifles, which were later determined to have had their registration numbers altered and removed.” serial” and “a black wallet containing a loaded 9mm Glock pistol with its serial number intact.”

And officers found what they called “Hells Angels support propaganda,” without identifying what it was.

Hells Angels produces stickers, t-shirts and other items that have slogans indicating support for the motorcycle gang. Proceeds from “prop” items are used to pay defense lawyers and support imprisoned Hells Angels members, according to evidence accepted by a British Columbia Supreme Court judge in the long-running civil case about three HA clubs.

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“Many Hells Angels chapters also sell products known as ‘support clothing’ or ‘support gear’ to non-members.” Judge Barry Davies noted.

The civil forfeiture complaint also says the Mounties searched the bed of Karvelis’ truck and found two trash bags containing “ammunition of various sizes and calibers,” a magazine pouch, a ski mask and spent ammunition casings.

In total, more than five kilograms of cocaine, 148 unsealed tobacco products, night vision goggles, $1,510 and two cell phones were seized, the director said, adding that “one of the cell phones contained messages and an audio recording that were consistent with arms trafficking, drug trafficking and tobacco trafficking.”

The truck should be confiscated because it was used by “Karvelis to engage in illegal activities,” the statement of claim also alleges.

The offenses include unauthorized possession of firearms, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, and trafficking in “a prohibited or restricted firearm or prohibited device.”

Karvelis has not been charged and has no criminal record in British Columbia, according to the online court database.

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He has not yet filed a defense brief in the case.

A search of his personal property record shows he owns several other vehicles and lists home addresses in recent years in Abbotsford, Mission and Chilliwack.

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