SOUTH GLENGARRY, ON, Aug. 20 - A 40 year old male resident of St-Isidore-de-Laprairie, Quebec is facing charges under the Excise Act 2001 for possession of a tobacco product not properly stamped, after a joint investigation by th he Canada Border Services Agency, RCMP and the Ontario Provincial Police.
On August 19th, 2008 at 3 :15 p.m., RCMP and O.P.P. officers stopped a 2005 Hino flatbed truck transporting a 20 foot shipping container on Highway 401 eastbound in South Glengarry, Ontario. RCMP officers searched the shipping container and seized 12,500 resealable bags of cont raband cigarettes. Seized are 2,500,000 cigarettes estimated to be worth $275,000. It is believed that the cigarettes were manufactured in the United States and smuggled into Canada. The 2005 Hino flatbed truck worth an estimated $25,000 as well as the shipping container worth an estimated $1,500, were also seized. The driver was also arrested on a Correctional Service of Canada warrant and is being held in custody. He will appear at the Alexandria court on October 8th, 2008 regarding the Excise Ac t 2001 charge.
"The RCMP has investigated a number of cases that demonstrate the connection betw een illegal tobacco trade and organized crime," said Sgt. Michael Harvey of the RCMP. "Today organized crime groups are operating in collaboration with each other. Some groups specialize in illicit manufacturing of goods, other groups may be involved i n transporting, while another group may specialize in laundering the money".
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For further information: Sgt. Michael Harvey, RCMP Cornwall Detachment, (613) 937-2831
