Busy day for Tobacco busts in Cornwall.
CORNWALL, ON, March 11 /CNW/ - A 36 year old male resident from Cornwall,
Ontario faces a charge for possession of a tobacco product not properly
stamped under authority of the Excise Act 2001 after the vehicle he was
travelling in was stopped by an officer from the Ontario Provincial Police.
On March 10th, 2009, an OPP officer stopped a 2005 Pontiac Montana van on
Highway 401 eastbound in South Glengarry, Ontario. The OPP officer observed
cardboard boxes of contraband cigarettes inside the van and contacted officers
from the Cornwall RCMP Detachment to assist. RCMP officers seized 1,300
cartons of Discount brand cigarettes as well as the van. The driver was
arrested and will appear at the Alexandria court on May 6th, 2009.
"Profits from the illegal sale of contraband cigarettes are going to
organized crime groups", said Sgt. Michael Harvey of the RCMP. "The members of
the public who purchase these illegal cigarettes are financing other criminal
activities including drug and firearms trafficking."
CORNWALL, ON, March 11 /CNW/ - A 21 year old female resident from
Akwesasne, Quebec is facing a charge for possession of a tobacco product not
properly stamped under authority of the Excise Act 2001 after the vehicle she
was driving was stopped by officers from the Cornwall RCMP Detachment.
On March 10th, 2009, an officer from the Canada Border Services Agency
observed a 2004 Chrysler Pacifica travel from Akwesasne, Ontario towards
Cornwall, Ontario. RCMP officers followed the vehicle which drove eastbound on
County Road 2 and was stopped in South Glengarry, Ontario. RCMP officers
seized 15 garbage bags containing almost 400 kilograms of fine cut tobacco
which is believed to have been produced in the United States and smuggled into
Canada. The vehicle she was driving was also seized. The driver was arrested
and will appear at the Alexandria court on May 6th, 2009.
"RCMP officers also seized three more vehicles containing over 700
kilograms of fine cut tobacco during the same shift", said Sgt. Michael Harvey
from the RCMP. "These seizures are still under investigation as some of the
vehicles that contained the tobacco were left abandoned by the drivers."