Possession of a Schedule I or II substance for the purpose of trafficking
R. v. Zanatta
Sentence and the Crown's position
What the law allows
Mateo Zanatta pleaded guilty to three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking after police found about four kilograms of MDMA and 1,087 fentanyl pills in his car trunk in New Westminster. The Crown and defence jointly proposed six years. Justice Loo accepted the joint submission and imposed six years, with credit for 1,212 days of pre-sentence custody, citing his young age, difficult childhood and guilty pleas.
In the judge's words
1It is my view that the sentence which is the subject of the joint submission made by the Crown and defence in this proceeding is appropriate in all of the circumstances. The sentence would address the paramount principles of denunciation, deterrence, and rehabilitation, and recognize Mr. Zanatta's reduced moral blameworthiness in respect of all of the factors I have discussed, including his young age, difficult childhood, and the guilty pleas into which he has entered.
The record
- Convicted of
- Possession of a Schedule I or II substance for the purpose of trafficking (CDSA 5(2), 3 counts)
- Prior convictions
- 0 prior convictions1
- At the time of the offence
- Not stated1
- Defence asked for
- 6 years in custody1
- Appeal
- Not yet checked
- Counsel
- Crown: K. Khosa
Defence: W. Jessop
Sources
- R. v. Zanatta, 2025 BCSC 1685 Court decision, CanLII, August 1, 2025
[10] The Crown and defence have provided a joint submission as to sentence. The joint submission is for six years, that being six years on Count 1, three years concurrent on Count 2, and one year concurrent on Count 3.
[10] The Crown and defence have provided a joint submission as to sentence. The joint submission is for six years, that being six years on Count 1, three years concurrent on Count 2, and one year concurrent on Count 3.
[1] THE COURT: On June 16, 2025, Mateo Zanatta pled guilty to three counts of possession of a controlled drug or substance for the purpose of trafficking, contrary to s. 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, S.C. 1996, c. 19.
[9] Mr. Zanatta has no adult criminal record.
[19] It is my view that the sentence which is the subject of the joint submission made by the Crown and defence in this proceeding is appropriate in all of the circumstances. The sentence would address the paramount principles of denunciation, deterrence, and rehabilitation, and recognize Mr. Zanatta's reduced moral blameworthiness in respect of all of the factors I have discussed, including his young age, difficult childhood, and the guilty pleas into which he has entered.
[20] Mr. Zanatta, please stand. In respect of Count 1 of the indictment, I sentence you to six years. … [21] You have so far served 808 days in presentence custody on this matter and so you will be credited with 1,212 days.
- Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, s. 5 Record, Justice Laws Website
- R. v. Zanatta, 2025 BCSC 1685 Court decision, Courts of British Columbia