July 12, 2007
(Cornwall, Ontario) On July 11th, 2007, at 7:00 a.m., an officer from the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service observed a 1999 Pontiac Venture van travelling from the east end of Cornwall, Island in Akwesasne, Ontario. The officer conducted a verification of the licence plate and had reason to believe the driver was trespassing on the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory. The officer stopped the van on the McConnell Avenue onramp to Highway 401. While approaching the van to identify the driver, the officer observed cardboard boxes of contraband cigarettes. The driver was identified as a 19 year old male resident of Grand Avenue in Cornwall, Ontario. Officers from the Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP detachment were contacted to attend the scene. The RCMP officer searched the van to confirm it was loaded with contraband cigarettes and the driver was placed under arrest and the smuggling van and cigarettes were seized. The RCMP seized 500 cartons of Discount light brand cigarettes and 800 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes that were all manufactured in the United States and smuggled into Canada. This represents a total of 260,000 cigarettes worth $28,600.
The investigation continues and the driver faces charges by the RCMP 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 will also be charged by the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service for the Indian Act offence of trespassing and he was issued a ticket for the Highway Traffic offence of driving with no insurance document in the vehicle. The van is registered to a 19 year old male resident of Shoreline Drive in Akwesasne, Ontario.
In the Cornwall-Akwesasne corridor, the RCMP has formed a partnership with the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service, Cornwall Community Police Service, Canada Border Services Agency, the Ontario Provincial Police, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the United States Border Patrol to combat smuggling. Coordinated actions by these partners have resulted in a number of significant illegal tobacco seizures.
-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