O.P.P. locate abandoned vehicle which leads to RCMP seizure of 188,400 cigarettes

RCMP Press Release

CORNWALL, ON, Aug. 14 - An officer from the Ontario Provincial Police located an abandoned vehicle in the median off Highway 401 in Cornwall, Ontario that contained 188,400 contraband cigarettes after a witness contacted the Ontario Provincial Police advising that the vehicle was speeding and lost control. On August 8th, 2008 at 10:27 p.m., a witness observed a 1998 Pontiac Grand AM driving at approximately 150 kilometres per hour eastbound on Highway 401 in Cornwall, Ontario. The witness observed the vehicle using the shoulder of the highway to pass other vehicles and then observed the vehicle lose control ending up in the median. The driver was then observed to get out of the vehicle and flee the scene on foot toward the city of Cornwall. The Ontario Provincial Police located the vehicle and with assistance of the K-9 Unit were unable to locate the driver. Officers from the Cornwall RCMP Detachment were contacted to assist and the RCMP officers seized 942 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes worth an estimated $20,724. It is believed that the cigarettes were manufactured in the United States and smuggled into Canada. The 1998 Pontiac Grand AM worth an estimated $3,475 was also seized. The investigation continues.

"Public Safety and security is our fundamental priority" said Sgt. Michael Harvey of the RCMP. "The illicit/contraband tobacco market is without a doubt lucrative, especially to heads of criminal organizations involved, who sometimes use their profits to fund additional illegal activity such as drug trafficking and firearms smuggling."