The following details are seizures made by the Cornwall RCMP Detachment from December 3rd, 2009 to December 10th, 2009. A total of 4,050 re-sealable bags/cartons of contraband cigarettes, 1 vehicle was seized and seven people arrested:
On December 5th, 2009, at 5:10 a.m., officers from the RCMP officers stopped a 1998 Dodge utility van on Second Street West in Cornwall, Ontario after it was observed traveling from a known smuggling area near the St. Lawrence River. The driver admitted to officers he was transporting contraband cigarettes. RCMP officers seized 1,250 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes. The 59 year old male driver from Cornwall, Ontario was arrested and faces an Excise Act 2001 charge for possession of a tobacco product not properly stamped. He was released to appear at court at a later date.
On December 7th, 2009, at 4:19 a.m., RCMP officers stopped a 2004 Chevrolet Escalade on Boundary Road in Cornwall, Ontario after it was observed leaving a local Marina near the St. Lawrence River. RCMP officers seized 1,000 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes as well as the vehicle.
The 37 year old male driver and 42 year old male passenger, both residents of Windsor, Ontario, were arrested and each face an Excise Act 2001 charge for possession of a tobacco product not properly stamped. They were released to appear at court at a later date.
On December 8th, 2009, just after midnight, RCMP officers observed a vehicle driving erratically on County Road 2 in South Glengarry, Ontario. They followed the vehicle down a roadway leading to the St. Lawrence River.
The vehicle parked at a local cottage where there was a pick-up truck also parked with a driver inside. RCMP officers observed several cardboard boxes of contraband cigarettes stacked up on the shore of the St. Lawrence River behind the cottage where a boat was also docked.
A third vehicle was then observed behind the cottage. RCMP officers arrested all three males who were from St. Andrews West, Akwesasne, and Cornwall, Ontario for possession of a tobacco product not properly stamped. They seized 1,500 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes located on the shore. During the investigation officers from the Ontario Provincial Police were contacted to assist and gave each of the drivers a ticket for trespassing on private property and had the three vehicles towed away. The investigation continues.
On December 9th, 2009 at 6:40 p.m., officers from the Canada Border Services Agency located at the Cornwall Port of Entry inspected a 2001 Ford Taurus. Officers located contraband cigarettes located in the trunk of the vehicle. RCMP officers were contacted to attend and seized 300 cartons of Discount brand cigarettes. The 46 year old male driver from Akwesasne, Ontario was arrested and faces an Excise Act 2001 charge for possession of a tobacco product not properly stamped. He was released to appear at court at a later date.
“Property owners along the St. Lawrence River in the Cornwall area should be aware that smuggling organizations are trespassing on their property to move illicit products into and out of Canada”, said Sgt. Michael Harvey from the RCMP. “Law enforcement has increased its focus on this continuing problem and our presence is disrupting criminal activity”.
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