Sept 15, 2007
(Cornwall, Ontario, September 15, 2006) On September 12 , 2006, at 11:40 p.m., members of the Ontario Provincial Police stopped a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck at a residence located on Charlotte Street close to Headline Road in South Stormont, Ontario. The truck had been followed by police after the truck turned away from a R.I.D.E. check point. While questioning the driver, officers observed boxes of contraband cigarettes inside the cargo area of the truck. The Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment was contacted to seize the illegal cigarettes and smuggling truck.
Located inside the truck were 1,500 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes, 550 cartons of Native Lights brand cigarettes, 250 cartons of Native Menthol brand cigarettes and 52.3 cartons of DK brand cigarettes. The value of the illegal cigarettes is $51,750. The male driver, a 26 year old resident of North Lunenburg Road, South Stormont, Ontario was arrested and will be 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). This driver was arrested and charged for the same offence in November of 2005 and was found guilty in January 2006. Because of this similar conviction, the driver faces a fine of $112,910 or a jail sentence. The truck is owned by a 28 year old male resident of Augustus Street in Cornwall, Ontario.
Smugglers are attracted to the financial gains of illegal activities and continue to be repeat offenders of crime. The Central St. Lawrence Valley Regional Task Force have seized close to 200,000 cartons of contraband cigarettes in 2006 and continue to disrupt the illegal activities of organized crime groups.
-30-
Sgt. Michael Harvey
(613) 937-2800 Ext. 293
Central St.Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment