June 5, 2997
(Akwesasne, Ontario) On June 1st, 2007, at 10:27 p.m., an officer from the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service observed a 1996 Dodge Ram Truck travelling westbound on Island Road in Akwesasne, Ontario and verified that the registered owner was from Lasalle, Quebec. The officer stopped the truck on Brookdale Avenue in Cornwall, Ontario to continue the trespassing investigation under authority of the Indian Act. As the officer approached the truck, he noticed a strong odour of tobacco. The driver was questioned on what his purpose was to be on the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory and he said he was visiting his girlfriend’s friend who he did not know the name. The driver then advised the officer at first that he was carrying dog cages in his truck and when asked how many cages the driver admitted he was transporting a load of cigarettes.
Sgt. Harvey from the Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment was contacted and he attended the scene. Sgt. Harvey questioned the driver on what his purpose was to be on Cornwall Island and the driver advised that he was there to pick up cigarettes. The truck was searched, and the cargo area was loaded with cases of contraband tobacco. The truck and cigarettes were seized and the driver, who is a 36 year old male resident of Alepin Avenue in Lasalle, Quebec, was arrested under Section 32(1) of the Excise Act 2001 for possession of a tobacco product that was not properly stamped according to the Excise Act 2001. He was released on his own recognizance to appear at the Cornwall Provincial Court on July 16th, 2007. The Akwesasne Mohawk Police will also charge the driver for trespassing under the Indian Act.
RCMP officers processed the seizure and located 2,800 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes. This represents a total of 560,000 cigarettes that were manufactured in the United States and smuggled into Canada. These cigarettes, which are worth $61,600, are not properly stamped and are packaged in clear plastic bags which contain 200 cigarettes in each bag. Each bag is equivalent to a carton of cigarettes.
Many of the smugglers who transport these illegal cigarettes for the organized crime groups are unemployed and are trying to make a quick and easy profit. In this case the driver also owned the truck and not only faces a criminal record but also had his vehicle seized. The public who continue to purchase these illegal cigarettes are financing the organized crime groups who continuously profit from illegal activities in our communities.
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Sgt. Michael Harvey
Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment
(613) 937-2831
Chief of Police Lewis Mitchell
Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service
(613) 575-2340