280,000 Contraband Cigarettes Seized by the Central St. Lawrence Valley Regional Task Force

Content created:2007-03-21
Content revised: 2007-05-25

(Akwesasne, Ontario) During the evening of March 15th, 2007, officers from the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service stopped a 2006 passenger van on Cornwall Island in Akwesasne, Ontario that was found to be loaded with contraband cigarettes. Further investigation revealed that the passenger van was a rental vehicle from a North York, Ontario vehicle rental agency. Officers contacted the Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment to seize the contraband cigarettes and smuggling van.

Located inside the van were 800 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes as well as 600 packages of Discount brand cigarettes. This seizure represents a total of 280,000 cigarettes that were manufactured in the United States and smuggled into Canada. The driver, a 32 year old female resident of Cayuga Road in Oshweken, Ontario and a 24 year old female resident of Lount Street in Toronto, Ontario were questioned and later released. The investigation continues into the illegal activities of out of town residents coming to the Akwesasne Territory to obtain contraband cigarettes. Akwesasne Mohawk Police have noticed an increase in non-residents coming into the Territory for the purpose of smuggling contraband goods. As a result, many of these individuals have been charged with Trespassing on an Indian Reserve under the Indian Act.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police fully supports the Akwesasne Mohawk Police in stopping organized crime groups from using the border to smuggle illegal goods across the border between Canada and the United States.

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Sgt. Michael Harvey
(613)937-2831
Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment

Chief of Police Lewis Mitchell
(613)575-2340
Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service