Aug 24, 2007
(Valleyfield, Québec) On August 21st, 2006, members of the Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment Valleyfield Office were conducting an anti-smuggling operation near St-Zotique, Québec, when officers observed suspects off-load boxes of contraband cigarettes from one boat onto an awaiting pick-up truck. The members arrested four people involved in the crime and seized a boat, pick-up truck, currency and contraband cigarettes.
Located in the 1998 Chevrolet pick-up truck and the 21 foot boat with a 225 horse power motor were 2,200 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes worth $48,400. Arrested were the boat operator, a 23 year old male resident of Lighthouse Road in Akwesasne, Ontario, a 32 year old male resident of St. Regis, Quebec, who was a passenger on the boat. Also arrested was the driver of the truck, a 30 year old male resident of Tollgate Road in Cornwall, Ontario and the 52 year old male resident of the property where the boat landed in St-Zotique, Quebec. The arrested individuals all face charges under Section 32(1) of the Excise Act 2001 (unlawful possession of a tobacco product that was not stamped in accordance with the provisions of the Excise Act 2001) as well as the Tobacco Tax Act. The value of the seized boat is $25,000. The seized truck is owned by a male resident of Tollgate Road in Cornwall, Ontario. Also seized was $1,080 dollars in U.S. funds and $470 dollars in Canadian funds located on the boat operator.
In this case we have residents of Cornwall and the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory trying to avoid police detection by using the vast St. Lawrence River and the property of citizens who live along the river to continue their illegal smuggling activities. The law enforcement agencies that make up the Central St. Lawrence Valley Regional Task Force continue to enforce illegal activities that take place along the border in this region.
-30-
Sgt. Michael Harvey
(613)937-2800 Ext. 293
Central St.Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment