It took four years, but York Regional Police in Ontario have tracked down a former real estate sales rep who fled the country while facing several conspiracy and drug charges dating back to 2002.
In 2000, police began investigating an increase in large-scale indoor marijuana grow operations within the region. One investigation identified a licensed real estate agent operating out of Richmond Hill by the name of Jennifer Wu. Wu used her position as a real estate agent to obtain rental properties to be used to grow marijuana, police say.
Wu was arrested in 2002 and linked to over 55 indoor marijuana grow operations across the Greater Toronto Area that resulted in the seizure of more than 30,000 marijuana plants.
On Feb. 13, 2006, Wu was scheduled to stand trial before the Superior Court of Justice in Newmarket but failed to appear. A warrant was issued for her arrest.
York police investigators continued to work on locating Wu, believing she might have fled from Canada. On Nov. 19, 2010, investigators located Wu, who was operating a daycare in Bucharest, Romania.
An extradition request was sent to the Romanian authorities and she was arrested. Investigators from York Regional Police went to Bucharest and took custody of Wu from the Romanian authorities. She was transported back to Canada.
Wu, 46, faces a variety of charges including production of a controlled substance, possession for the purpose of trafficking, theft of electricity, possession of proceeds of crime, income tax and Goods and Services Tax evasion, failure to comply with restraint order, breach of recognizance of bail and failure to appear.
Wu was originally arrested at the same time as another sales rep, Phu Nhi (John) Trac. Along with his wife, Trac controlled and operated two numbered bank accounts with cash deposits totaling approximately $760,000, which represented the minimum in proceeds he received from trafficking the marijuana, say court records.
Wu allegedly worked for Trac, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison, with some terms to be served concurrently, making the actual jail time five years. He was convicted for drug trafficking, money laundering, income tax evasion and electricity theft.
