Content created:2006-10-04

(Cornwall, October 3, 2006) On September 29th , 2006, at 10:40 p.m., members of the Ontario Provincial Police stopped a 2002 GMC Sierra pick-up truck during a Highway Traffic Act violation on Cornwall Centre Road at Highway 138 in South Stormont, Ontario. While questioning the driver, the officer could smell a fresh odour of tobacco. Upon further investigation, the driver admitted to be in possession of contraband cigarettes. Officers from the Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment were contacted to seize the illegal cigarettes and smuggling truck.

Located inside the truck were 2,500 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes. Each bag contains 200 cigarettes which is equivalent to a carton. The value of the illegal cigarettes is $55,000. The male driver, a 26 year old resident of Marlborough Street in Cornwall, 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). The truck is owned by a 23 year old female resident of Recreation Road in Akwesasne, Ontario. In 2005, the registered owner was charged for possession of contraband tobacco and was the owner of another vehicle seized with contraband tobacco.

The drivers may be paid a substantial amount of money to transport smuggled tobacco in the short term, but will be subject to a criminal record and heavy fines by both the Federal and Provincial Governments in the long term. It is always the smugglers at the lower level of the criminal organization who pay the price so that the hierarchy of the same organization can profit.

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For information :

Sgt. Michael Harvey
(613)937-2800 Ext. 293
Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment