After his arrest, Wei told police he was a student. He was apparently living the life of a wealthy scholar, residing in a luxury 1,800-square-foot apartment in the heart of the University of British Columbia’s campus, across the road from the School of Law.

But police believe he was linked to a Vancouver organised crime group connected to mainland China, that allegedly ran illegal casinos in BC and laundered cash from drug trafficking, loan sharking, kidnapping and extortion.

None of the claims, relating to an ongoing police operation called Project Enationalize, have been proven in court. They are described in the forfeiture claim to the cash, registered in BC’s Supreme Court last Thursday, as well as previous police statements.

Staff Sergeant Lindsey Houghton, spokesman for BC’s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit that is conducting Enationalize via its illegal gaming team, said no one has yet been charged and he could not identify suspects.

However, he referred the SCMP to a June statement by the CFSEU about a lengthy investigation that had resulted in nine arrests. Unlike the court action, the police statement does not identify Project Enationalize, and nor does it name Wei, but it describes BC raids on an alleged organised crime group “with links nationally and internationally, including mainland China”. Cash, bank drafts, drug paraphernalia and computers were seized, as well as luxury vehicles, one with “a sophisticated hidden compartment”.

“Top-tier organised crime is not easy to tackle and requires a coordinated approach to achieve results. The individuals associated with this level of criminal activity conducted their operations in a sophisticated manner,” Assistant Commissioner Kevin Hackett of the CFSEU said at the time.

The Civil Forfeiture office says in its claim that a sniffer dog reacted “positive” to drug residue on the C$140,000 found in Wei’s car . “Mr Wei did not have sufficient legitimate income to have acquired the money ... [he] obtained the money by participating in the unlawful activity,” namely, drug trafficking and tax evasion, the supreme court action states.

The two-bedroom apartment in UBC’s “Coast” development that was identified to the court as Wei’s home was valued last year at more than C$1.6 million, but a smaller Coast apartment is currently on the market for about C$1.9 million. Units feature Jacuzzis, Sub-Zero appliances and marble countertops.

The apartment – which last changed hands in 2011 when it was sold for about C$1.3 million – is not listed among the public access codes on Coast’s intercoms. Any link between Wei and the current owner is unclear, so the SCMP is not naming him.

On a recent morning, a procession of luxury vehicles with young drivers could be seen exiting the Coast car park.

In the legal action, Wei is alleged to have told police that although he was a student, he was also collecting employment insurance.

He was apparently not an original target of Enationalize. Instead, the court action says, police were tracking another man who met Wei in the underground parking lot of a Shoppers Drug Mart on West Pender Street on April 29.

“The target exited his vehicle carrying a heavy box-shaped bag and placed it in the rear passenger seat of [Wei’s] Jeep,” the action says. Police stopped the Jeep on Granville Street and located the money “in plain view”.

A spokesman for UBC said privacy rules prohibited it from confirming whether Wei was enrolled.

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The Hongcouver blog is devoted to the hybrid culture of its namesake cities: Hong Kong and Vancouver. All story ideas and comments are welcome. Connect with me by email [email protected] or on Twitter, @ianjamesyoung70.