Aug 25, 2007
(Akwesasne, Ontario) On August 23rd, 2006 at 3:30 p.m., members of Akwesasne Mohawk Police stopped a 1996 Cadillac bearing Ontario plates in Akwesasne, Ontario. Officers approached the driver and could observe non-duty paid tobacco on the rear seat of the vehicle. The Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP detachment was contacted to arrest the lone occupant of the vehicle and seize the contraband cigarettes and vehicle. The officers were also kept busy looking after the 11 month old Pitt Bull dog that was travelling with the driver.
Located in the vehicle were 400 cartons of DK brand full flavour cigarettes and 200 cartons of Native brand full flavour cigarettes. Each carton can sell up $22 dollars each on the street. Renee Danielle Leblanc, the 20 year old female driver and a resident of 310 Eighth Street East, Cornwall, Ontario has been charged 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). She will appear in court on October 16th, 2006.The vehicle is registered to a 26 year old female resident of Akwesasne, Ontario.
The local law enforcement agencies are fully supportive of disrupting illegal activities that affect the integrity of our border with the United States. Any commodity that crosses the border illegally should not be tolerated. We encourage the public to discourage the sale of illegal cigarettes and put a stop to organized crime groups profiting in their communities.
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Sgt. Michael Harvey
(613)937-2800 Ext. 293
Central St.Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment