Cornwall, Ontario - On July 26th, 2007, at 7:05 a.m., intelligence officers from the Canada Border Services Agency working with officers from the Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment- Cornwall Office during a tobacco smuggling operation observed the driver of a 1998 Chevrolet GM 4 pick-up truck meet with the driver of a 1996 GMC Sierra pick-up truck on Street Road in the township of South Glengarry, Ontario. During the meeting officers observed an exchange between the two drivers. Officers contacted the Ontario Provincial Police who were patrolling in the area to assist in approaching the two drivers. Upon their arrival both pick-up trucks departed the scene in opposite directions. The Ontario Provincial Police officers stopped the 1998 Chevrolet pick-up truck within moments and the officers observed a needle on the seat with blood on the driver’s wrist and under the steering wheel. They also observed cases of contraband tobacco in the cargo area of the pick-up truck. A short while later, officers from the RCMP and the Ontario Provincial Police stopped the 1996 GMC Sierra pick-up truck at the intersection of Boundary Road and South Branch Road in South Glengarry, Ontario. Officers observed the cargo area to be loaded with cases of contraband tobacco.
Located inside the 1998 GM4 pick-up truck and seized by the RCMP were 2,500 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes, several vials totaling 11 millilitres of what is believed to be liquid amphetamine as well as needles and syringes. The smuggling truck worth $6,375 was also seized. The driver, identified as 43 year old Andrew Adams of Thirteenth Street in Cornwall, Ontario was arrested and charged for possession of a substance believed to be amphetamines under authority of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, possession of a tobacco product that was not stamped in accordance with the provisions of the Excise Act 2001 under the authority of the Excise Act 2001, operation of a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs under authority of the Criminal Code. He was also issued several driving offence tickets by the Ontario Provincial Police under authority of the Highway Traffic Act. Andrew Adams will appear for a Bail hearing on July 31st, 2007 at the Cornwall Court. The truck is registered to a 19 year old female resident of James Lane in Akwesasne, Ontario.
Located in the 1996 GMC Sierra pick-up truck and seized by the RCMP were 2,500 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes, several vials totaling 21 millilitres of what is believed to be liquid amphetamine as well as needles and syringes. The smuggling truck worth $4,300 was also seized. The driver, identified as 31 year old Matthew Groulx of Third Street in Cornwall, Ontario was arrested and charged for possession of a substance believed to be amphetamines under authority of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, possession of a tobacco product that was not stamped in accordance with the provisions of the Excise Act 2001 under the authority of the Excise Act 2001, and the Criminal Code offences of flight from police; operation of a motor vehicle while disqualified; and two counts of breach of probation. He was also issued several tickets by the Ontario Provincial Police for driving offences under authority of the Highway Traffic Act. Matthew Groulx will also appear at the Cornwall Court for a Bail hearing on July 31st, 2007. The truck is registered to a male resident of Pitt Street in Cornwall, Ontario.
In total 1,000,000 contraband cigarettes worth $110,000 that were manufactured in the United States and smuggled into Canada were seized. The value of the narcotics is not known at this time. Police are concerned about the state of mind of smugglers who are operating motor vehicles on our highways while under the influence of narcotics. Public safety and security is our fundamental priority and those who purchase illegal cigarettes should understand that this crime is financing other illicit activities such as drug trafficking.
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Sgt. Michael Harvey
Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment
613-937-2831
