The following details are seizures made by the Cornwall RCMP Detachment from December 10th, 2009 to December 17th, 2009.
A total of 4,750 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes, 950 cartons of little cigars, 426 kilograms of fine cut tobacco, and five people arrested:
On December 10th, 2009, at 1:28 p.m., officers from the Ontario Provincial Police stopped a 2001 Pontiac Grand AM on County Road 2 in South Glengarry, Ontario that was found to be speeding.
An RCMP officer stopped to assist and located cardboard boxes of contraband cigarettes inside the trunk of the vehicle. RCMP officers seized 250 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes. The 26 year old female driver from Cornwall, Ontario was arrested and faces an Excise Act 2001 charge for possession of a tobacco product not properly stamped. She was released to appear at court on a later date.
On December 14th, 2009, at 6:44 p.m., officers from the Ontario Provincial Police observed a 1988 Chevrolet pick-up truck parked on a roadway near the shores of the St.Lawrence River in South Glengarry, Ontario.
The officers observed garbage bags in the cargo area of the truck and footprints in the snow from the pick-up truck to the shore. Officers also observed a 2006 Dodge Ram pick-up truck backing into an empty lot near the shore. A driver and passenger of that vehicle were detained and questioned. Officers then located cardboard boxes of various flavours of little cigars on the shore and observed a boat fleeing the area. Witnesses advised the officers that the driver of the Chevrolet pick-up truck fled the scene.
RCMP officers were contacted to assist. RCMP officers seized 950 cartons of Tomahawk brand little cigars in peach, cherry, strawberry and watermelon flavours that were located on the shore, as well as 8 pills believed to be Oxycodone tablets located inside the 2006 Dodge Ram truck. RCMP officers also seized 8 garbage bags containing 148 kilograms of fine cut tobacco located inside the 1988 Chevrolet pick-up truck and 15 garbage bags containing 278 kilograms of fine cut tobacco located on the shore. The 18 year old male driver from Kahnawake, Quebec and the 18 year old female passenger from Akwesasne, Ontario were arrested and the investigation continues.
On December 15th, 2009, at 5:35 a.m., RCMP officers observed a 1998 Ford pick-up truck drive into a pathway near the St. Lawrence River in Cornwall, Ontario and then depart the area 15 minutes later. Officers stopped the pick-up truck and located cardboard boxes of contraband cigarettes inside the truck. A total of 2,000 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes were seized. A 42 year old male driver from Cornwall, Ontario was arrested for possession of a tobacco product not properly stamped and released to appear at court on a later date.
On December 16th, 2009, at 12:30 a.m., RCMP officers observed a boat travelling with no lights on the St. Lawrence River to a residence in Cornwall, Ontario. When officers arrived at the residence they observed cardboard boxes of contraband cigarettes on the back porch and there were no people in the area. RCMP officers seized 1,500 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes. No arrests were made and the investigation continues.
On December 16th, 2009, at 7:00 p.m., an officer from the Ontario Provincial Police stopped a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado on County Road 2 in South Glengarry, Ontario for a vehicle infraction. While taking to the driver, the officer detected a strong odour of tobacco and the driver admitted to be transporting contraband cigarettes. Officers from the RCMP were contacted to assist and seized 1,000 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes. A 44 year old male driver from Crysler, Ontario was arrested for possession of a tobacco product not properly stamped and released to appear at court on a later date.
“There has been a significant increase in boat loads of contraband tobacco being transported to the shores of the St. Lawrence River in Cornwall and South Glengarry and vehicles are picking up the product as fast as it is being dropped off”, said Sgt. Michael Harvey from the RCMP. “Local citizens are seeing this activity and calling law enforcement to take action. All law enforcement are working together to be present in these high risk smuggling areas”.
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