Montréal man sentenced to 12 months in prison, business fined $567,645 for attempted tobacco smuggle into Canada

July 27, 2017       Montréal, Quebec               Canada Border Services Agency

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today that a Montréal man has been sentenced to 12 months in prison and his trucking company Réno Réal Inc. has been fined $567,645 for attempting to smuggle tobacco into Canada.

The incident occurred on July 4, 2013, at the St-Bernard-de-Lacolle border crossing, where Alexandru Artin, truck driver and owner of Réno Réal Inc., attempted to smuggle 2,665 kilograms of loose tobacco into Canada

On June 16, 2017, at the St-Jean-sur-le-Richelieu courthouse, Alexandru Artin and Réno Réal Inc. were found guilty of four charges: 

• Having in his possession a tobacco product that is not stamped (section 32 of the Excise Act, 2001);

• Illegally making false or deceptive statements by failing to declare tobacco products, in violation of paragraph 153(a) of the Customs Act;

• Attempting to evade payment of duties on tobacco, in violation of paragraph 153(c) of the Customs Act;

• Attempting to smuggle into Canada clandestinely any goods subject to duties, or any goods the importation of which is prohibited, controlled or regulated, namely tobacco products, in violation of section 159 of the Customs Act.