The following details are seizures from October 16th to October 21st, 2009. A total of 3,300 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes, 789 kilograms of fine cut tobacco, 2 vehicles were seized and four people arrested:
On October 19th, 2009, the Cornwall Community Police Service contacted the Cornwall RCMP as they located cardboard boxes of contraband cigarettes located in a garage located on Gloucester Street North in Cornwall, Ontario. RCMP officers attended and seized 950 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes. No arrests were made and the investigation continues.
On October 20th, 2009, an officer from the Ontario Provincial Police stopped a 2000 GMC 2500 van on Highway 401 eastbound in South Glengarry, Ontario. The OPP officer observed the van to be transporting garbage bags of fine cut tobacco and they contacted the RCMP Cornwall Detachment to assist. RCMP officers seized 31 garbage bags containing 789 kilograms of fine cut tobacco. The 25 year old male driver from Cornwall, Ontario was arrested and faces a charge for possession of a tobacco product not properly stamped according to the Excise Act 2001. He will appear at court at a later date.
On October 21st, 2009, officers from the Cornwall RCMP Detachment observed a 1998 Ford F150 pick-up truck exiting a roadway located near the St. Lawrence River in Cornwall, Ontario. Officers stopped the vehicle on Sixth Street. While talking to the occupants of the truck officers detected a strong odour of tobacco. The driver admitted he was transporting contraband tobacco when questioned by police. The RCMP seized 2,350 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes as well as the truck. Wayne Husbands, the 46 year old male driver from Cornwall, Ontario was arrested and charged for possession of a tobacco product not properly stamped according to the Excise Act 2001. He was held for a bail hearing. Also arrested and facing a charge for possession of a tobacco product not properly stamped was a 27 year old female passenger from Akwesasne, Ontario and a 34 year old male passenger from Cornwall, Ontario. The male passenger also faces a charge for breach of a probation order. They will appear at court on a later date.
“There is still an increase in smuggling activity in the City of Cornwall in areas located near the St. Lawrence River”, said Sgt. Michael Harvey of the RCMP. “The public should be vigilant when walking or travelling in those areas and when you observe suspicious activity please do not hesitate to contact local law enforcement”..
