July 16, 2007
(Cornwall, Ontario) On July 12th, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. an officer from the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service observed a 1992 GMC pick-up truck that did not come to a complete stop at an intersection on Cornwall Island in Akwesasne, Ontario. The officer stopped the truck on Brookdale Avenue in Cornwall, Ontario to issue a Highway Traffic Offence ticket for failing to come to a complete stop. As the officer approached the driver he could detect a strong odour of tobacco. The driver admitted to the officer that he was transporting contraband tobacco. An officer from the Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP detachment was contacted to attend the scene. The RCMP officer searched the truck and confirmed that it was loaded with contraband cigarettes and the driver and passenger were placed under arrest. The smuggling truck and cigarettes were seized. The RCMP seized 891 re-sealable bags of light flavour cigarettes and 250 re-sealable bags of full flavour cigarettes. This represents a total of 228,200 cigarettes worth $25,102 that were manufactured in the United States and smuggled into Canada.
The driver, a 40 year old male resident of Mohawk Road in Hagersville, Ontario and his 15 year old son who was a passenger were arrested and will be charged 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. They were released to appear in the Cornwall court on August 16th, 2007. The truck is registered to a female resident of Ojibway Road in Hagersville, Ontario.
Later that day at 1:45 p.m., an officer from Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service stopped a 1993 Dodge Caravan on Brookdale Avenue in Cornwall, Ontario during a trespassing investigation after it was observed travelling off Cornwall Island. When the officer asked for the driver to show his driver’s licence, the officer observed cardboard boxes of contraband cigarettes behind the driver’s seat. The officer contacted the RCMP who attended the scene. A search of the van revealed it to contain contraband tobacco which was seized by the RCMP. Among the cigarettes were 35 cartons of Market Ultra Lights brand cigarettes, 50 cartons of Smokin’ Joe Ultra Lights brand cigarettes, 103 cartons of Lewiston Lights brand cigarettes, 70 cartons of Market Brand Menthol Lights brand cigarettes, 48 cartons of Market Brand Full Flavor brand cigarettes, 19 cartons of Smokin’ Joe Full Flavor brand cigarettes, 10 cartons of Seneca brand cigarettes and 42 cartons of Smokin’ Joe Brand Menthol Lights brand cigarettes. This represents a total of 85,200 cigarettes that were manufactured in the United States and smuggled into Canada worth $9,372.
The driver, a 44 year old male resident of Third Street in Cornwall, Ontario, was arrested and will be charged 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 was released to appear in the Cornwall court on August 30th, 2007. The van is registered to a 70 year old female resident of Route 37 in Akwesasne, New York.
Although the courts make the final determination regarding penalties and fines, any person convicted of possessing, buying or selling contraband tobacco products could be subject to fines or penalties ranging from $500 to over $1,000,000 and/or imprisonment for up to five years. In addition, the contraband will be seized, and the vehicle used to transport the contraband may be seized.
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Sgt. Michael Harvey
Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment
613-937-2831