Cornwall, Ontario - On August 13th, 2007, the Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment along with their partner the Canada Border Services Agency organized an enforcement day targeting known organizations involved in the smuggling of contraband tobacco from the Cornwall area.
Individuals involved in tobacco smuggling departing the Cornwall area towards Montréal, Toronto and Ottawa were identified and intercepted with the assistance of our valued partners Sûreté du Québec – Access Montréal, Ontario Ministry of Revenue Special Investigations Branch, Kingston RCMP Detachment, Ottawa RCMP Customs and Excise Unit, and Montreal RCMP Customs and Excise Unit.
This joint operation focused on targeting individuals who belong to various organized crime groups which facilitate the distribution of the contraband tobacco throughout Canada. The result of this operation permitted the partner law enforcement agencies to intercept nine different vehicles in the following regions:
5 vehicles in the Montréal region by the Montréal RCMP Customs and Excise Unit and the Sûreté du Québec - Access Montréal
3 vehicles in the Cornwall region by the Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment and the Ontario Ministry of Revenue
1 vehicle in the Kingston region by the Kingston RCMP Detachment and the Ontario Ministry of Revenue
These interceptions permitted the arrest of nine individuals (7 from Cornwall, 1 from New York State, and 1 from Strickland, Ontario) who will face charges under the Excise Act 2001 and the Provincial Tobacco Tax Act for the possession of re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes and/or the possession of fine cut tobacco product that were not properly marked or stamped.
Items Seized
9 vehicles and one 24 foot trailer seized are valued at $51,000.00
9,050 assorted re-sealable bags each containing 200 cigarettes seized represents 1,810,000 cigarettes valued at $199,100.00
2,340 kilograms (11,700 - 200 gram pouches) of bulk fine cut tobacco seized is valued at $210,600.00
The total value of the seized items during this operation is $460,700.00.
Reducing the threat and impact of organized crime is one of the RCMP's strategic priorities. Our enforcement resources are directed at criminal organizations involved in the smuggling, manufacturing and distribution of contraband tobacco products. With our partners from the Canada Border Services Agency, the Ontario Ministry of Revenue and the Sûreté du Québec, we continue to work in partnership with the goal of disrupting these organizations.
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Sgt. Michael Harvey
Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment
613-937-2831
