What began as a routine-looking interaction at a Vancouver ATM more than three years ago has become the hinge for a sprawling probe into alleged nationwide online sales of cannabis and psilocybin products, according to court documents filed this year.
From 66 bank cards to a years-long investigation
Vancouver police arrested a man in March 2023 after officers observed him making withdrawals with multiple bank cards. A search turned up 66 bank cards and roughly $39,200 in cash, items that soon attracted the attention of federal investigators.
That discovery is detailed in an affidavit by an RCMP cyber-crime investigator, Sgt. Robin Critchley, filed in support of a civil forfeiture lawsuit launched by British Columbia's Director of Civil Forfeiture in March 2026. The investigation, conducted by RCMP with assistance from FINTRAC — Canada's financial intelligence unit for anti-money laundering — followed a complex trail of accounts and numbered companies allegedly used to collect and move funds generated by online illicit sales.
How the alleged money flows
The affidavit describes a multistage process by which buyers of the websites were instructed to send funds before receiving products. Investigators say the Controller of the sites directed customers to send an electronic money transfer (EMT) to an email address. That money would then be deposited into corporate accounts and ultimately moved into individuals' personal banking accounts.
"Once customers have selected and purchased the illicit products online, they are provided with an email to send an EMT to before they can receive the illicit products," Sgt. Critchley wrote. "The controller receiving the EMTs can choose which bank account to receive the funds, typically going into various federally incorporated company accounts, then transferred into individuals' personal banking accounts."
The Director of Civil Forfeiture alleges that the websites were operated by a criminal organisation and that the funds were intentionally disguised through layers of transactions. Notably, no criminal charges have been publicly laid against the defendants named in the civil suit, and the online storefronts targeted by the investigation remain accessible and continue to list cannabis and psilocybin products.
Named account holders and the government's claim
The civil action identifies three account holders whom authorities allege were "directly involved" in laundering proceeds from the sales. The government claims the trio moved more than $1.5 million of allegedly illicit funds between November 2024 and January 2026, using thousands of EMTs to shuffle money through dozens of accounts.
| Account holder(s) | Alleged role | Date range | Alleged amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Sherbuck & Rosa Mohammadi | Account holders accused of transfers | Nov. 2024 – Jan. 2026 | Part of > $1.5 million total |
| Noah Eves | Account holder accused of transfers | Nov. 2024 – Jan. 2026 | Part of > $1.5 million total |
Sherbuck and Mohammadi have filed a response to the civil claim; the public record does not show criminal charges against them or Mr. Eves. The civil process aims to seize funds and property alleged to be proceeds of unlawful activity — a separate pathway from criminal prosecution.
Local impacts and unanswered questions
The case highlights how local policing encounters can expose broader networks. What began at a Vancouver ATM has pulled in federal financial investigators and civil law enforcement across jurisdictions. For Vancouver residents and local businesses, the proceedings underscore the intersection of online marketplaces, financial institutions and efforts to detect and disrupt alleged money laundering.
Key practical questions remain in the public record: how the websites continue to operate despite the civil complaint, whether further enforcement action is planned, and how financial institutions flagged and responded to the transactions described. FINTRAC's involvement indicates the movement of funds raised national anti-money-laundering concerns, but the civil suit is focused on trying to claw back assets rather than criminal penalties.
- Triggering event: March 2023 Vancouver arrest with 66 bank cards and cash.
- Allegation: Multistage laundering of online sales proceeds via EMTs and corporate accounts.
- Government action: Civil forfeiture lawsuit filed March 2026 seeking seizure of funds tied to > $1.5 million.
The unfolding litigation will test the province's civil-forfeiture tools and could lead to further public disclosure as documents are filed and contested in court. For now, a Vancouver ATM withdrawal is recorded in court papers as the moment a wider web of alleged online drug sales and financial manoeuvres began to unravel.
