July 18, 2007
Cornwall, Ontario - On July 17th, 2007, at 2:26 p.m., intelligence officers from the Canada Border Services Agency working with officers from the Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment- Cornwall Office stopped a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado in Cornwall, Ontario and seized a total of 1,350 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes that were manufactured in the United States and smuggled into Canada. This represents 270,000 contraband cigarettes worth $29,700 that were not properly packaged or stamped and were destined to be sold illegally.
The driver and registered owner of the truck, a 71 year old male resident of 5th Line Road in Ohsweken, 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 not properly stamped according to the Excise Act 2001. The truck, which is valued at $13,175, and the illegal cigarettes were seized.
The RCMP is one of several federal and provincial agencies which have an interest in tobacco enforcement. We work in partnership with these other national and international agencies whenever possible to increase enforcement efforts.
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Sgt. Michael Harvey
Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment
613-937-2831