Link to Original Story

Highway Traffic Act Investigation by the Cornwall Community Police Service leads to the seizure of 2,769.35 Kilograms of Fine Cut Tobacco by the Cornwall RCMP Detachment

SOUTH GLENGARRY, ON, June 25 - On June 24th, 2008, at 1:30 a.m., officers from the Cornwall Community Police Service stopped a 2005 Ford F-250 pick-up truck hauling a 2006 Haulmark utility trailer on Highway 401 eastbound near the Summerstown Road exit in South Glengarry, Ontario. Their investigation revealed that the pick-up truck was leased from a leasing company located in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was displaying licence plates that belonged to a different vehicle. The trailer was found to be registered to a resident of Kahnawake, Quebec. When the officers inspected the trailer they found it to contain large boxes of fine cut tobacco. Officers from the Cornwall RCMP detachment attended the scene and seized 24 cardboard boxes each containing clear bags of fine cut tobacco. The total weight of the tobacco seized was 2,739.35 kilograms valued at $249,241.50. It is believed that this tobacco originated from the United States and was smuggled in Canada.

The driver, a 46 year old male resident of Bellamy Street in Cornwall, Ontario was arrested and will be charged by the RCMP for possession of a tobacco product not properly stamped according to the Excise Act 2001. He was released and will appear at the Alexandria court on August 13th, 2008. The truck valued at $15,575 and the trailer valued $7,000 were also seized by the RCMP. The driver also received Highway Traffic Act offence tickets from the Cornwall Community Police Service for failing to have an insurance card, using a licence plate not authorized for the vehicle, failing to surrender a permit for a vehicle and draw trailer with no permit.

"The RCMP is an intelligence-led organization that works with its partners to leverage resources in the protection of Canada and Canadians from both internal and external threats" states Sgt. Michael Harvey of the RCMP. "We not only target contraband tobacco, but also bring to bear all our assets in addressing cross-border criminality to ensure safe homes and communities."