Cornwall, Ontario - On September 5th, 2007, the Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment- Cornwall and Valleyfield offices along with their partner the Canada Border Services Agency organized another enforcement day in recent weeks 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 from the Ontario Provincial Police, Quebec Provincial Police – Project Access, Ontario Ministry of Revenue Special Investigations Branch, Kingston RCMP Customs and Excise Unit, and the Ottawa 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 Cornwall region by the Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment- Cornwall office, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Ontario Ministry of Revenue and the Ottawa RCMP Customs and Excise Unit
3 vehicles in the Valleyfield region by the Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment- Valleyfield office and the Quebec Provincial Police
1 vehicle in the Kingston region by the Kingston RCMP Customs and Excise Unit and the Ontario Ministry of Revenue
These interceptions permitted the arrest of ten individuals (2 from Cornwall, Ontario,1 from L’Orignal, Ontario, 1 from Ohsweken, Ontario, 1 from Avonmore ,Ontario, 1 from Lasalle, Quebec, 1 from Chateauguay, Quebec, 1 from St-Sixte, Quebec, 1 from St-Regis, Quebec and 1 from Hogansburg, New York), nine of which will be charged under the Excise Act 2001 and the Provincial Tobacco Tax Act for the possession of a tobacco product not properly stamped according to the Excise Act 2001.
Items Seized
8 vehicles seized valued at $25,525
8,100 assorted re-sealable bags each containing 200 cigarettes seized represents 1,620,000 cigarettes valued at $178,200
3,400 assorted cartons each containing 200 cigarettes seized represents 680,000 cigarettes valued at $74,800
2,200 kilograms of bulk fine cut tobacco seized is valued at $198,000
3 grams of a substance believed to be Cocaine valued at $300
The total value of the seized items during this operation is $476,825.
Public safety and security is our fundamental priority. The illicit/contraband tobacco market is without a doubt lucrative, especially to the heads of criminal organizations involved, which sometimes use their profits to fund additional illegal activity such as drug trafficking and firearms smuggling. That concerns us along with our partners from the Canada Border Services Agency, the Ontario Ministry of Revenue, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Quebec Provincial Police. It has a negative impact on our communities, undermines the legitimate market, and our government lose revenue.
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Sgt. Michael Harvey
Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment
613-937-2831
