Thirty-year old Kuldeep Lal had been the subject of police surveillance on his Burde Street home in October 2016, and after executing a search warrant, police found almost $8000 worth of cocaine and $4800 in cash hidden in his mother’s closet. In sentencing Lal last week, Judge Brian Harvey also ordered the forfeiture of a 2003 Toyota Matrix, cash, scales and cell phones used in the dial-a-dope operation.

PORT ALBERNI – An Indo-Canadian restauranteur from Port Alberni received a 6 month jail sentence for selling more than just sandwiches.

Thirty-year old Kuldeep Lal had been the subject of police surveillance on his Burde Street home in October 2016, and after executing a search warrant, police found almost $8000 worth of cocaine and $4800 in cash hidden in his mother’s closet.

When arrested he admitted to using and selling cocaine and pled guilty to possession for the purpose of trafficking.

In sentencing Lal last week, Judge Brian Harvey also ordered the forfeiture of a 2003 Toyota Matrix, cash, scales and cell phones used in the dial-a-dope operation.

In 2014, MoneySense magazine named Port Alberni as the worst city to live in Canada in its annual ranking.

The magazine scored 201 Canadian cities across 34 categories including household income, population growth, culture, weather and walkability.

Despite its picturesque Vancouver Island location, Port Alberni came in last due to high unemployment, high crime rate and low household income.