June 7, 2007
(Cornwall, Ontario) On June 5th, 2007, at 10:00 p.m., an officer from the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service observed a suspicious 2007 Dodge Caravan traveling off the east end of Cornwall Island in Akwesasne, Ontario. Officers observed the driver pull over at the Pizza Hut on Brookdale Avenue in Cornwall, Ontario where officers made contact with the two occupants. Officers confirmed that the driver was driving with a suspended license and could also observe cases of contraband tobacco. Officers from the Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment attended the scene and arrested both the driver and passenger pursuant to 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. Further checks revealed that there were two arrest warrants for the driver, identified as Skyler Williams who is a 23 year old resident of Ohsweken, Ontario. One of the arrest warrants is for an Ontario Provincial Police charge of robbery stemming from the Caledonia land dispute during the summer of 2006. The other warrant is for a breach of conditions charge by the Six Nations Police Service. Officers from the Ontario Provincial Police arrested Williams on the outstanding warrant and he is in their custody. He was also issued a Highway Traffic Act ticket by the Akwesasne Mohawk Police for driving while suspended. The female passenger, who is also a 23 year old resident of Ohsweken, Ontario, was released by the RCMP.
RCMP officers seized 1,300 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes. This represents a total of 260,000 cigarettes that were manufactured in the United States and smuggled into Canada. The cigarettes are worth $28,600 when sold illegally. The van is registered to a vehicle rental company from Mississauga, Ontario and will be returned. This investigation continues and both may be charged under the Excise Act 2001.
Organized crime groups use the sale of illegal cigarettes to fund other illegal activities. Law enforcement agencies continue to work together to disrupt the supply routes used by these groups and together will help bring to justice those involved in criminal activity.
-30-
Sgt. Michael Harvey
Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment
(613)937-2831
Chief of Police Lewis Mitchell
Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service
(613)575-2340