Content created:2006-10-16

(Valleyfield, Québec) On October 11th, 2006, at 8:00 p.m., officers from the Canada Border Services Agency and the Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment- Valleyfield Office intercepted a 1989 Chevrolet pick-up on Boulevard Mgr. Langlois in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec. Officers discovered the truck to be loaded with contraband cigarettes. The RCMP officers seized the illegal cigarettes and the smuggling truck and arrested one teenager.

Located in the truck were 1,500 re-sealable zip lock bags of Full Flavour cigarettes that were not stamped. The driver of the truck, a 17 year old teenager who resides in Akwesasne, Ontario was arrested and will face charges from the RCMP 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 teenager will also face charges from the Quebec Provincial Police under the Tobacco Tax Act. The truck is registered to a 28 year old male resident of North Gower, Ontario.

The promises of quick and easy money by organized crime groups is what attracts teenagers to become smugglers of illegal contraband products. However, it is the teenager who is left alone to deal with the consequences of an arrest for these illegal criminal activities. A teenager’s criminal past will eliminate many opportunities as an adult.

-30-

Sgt. Michael Harvey
(613) 937-2800 ext. 293
Central St. Lawrence Valley Detachment - Cornwall Office