Customs and Excise

Contraband Tobacco Enforcement
Atlantic Canada has the second largest percentage of contraband tobacco smokers in Canada, and consequently, the smuggling of contraband tobacco throughout New Brunswick has increased in recent years.  Many people may not realize the close involvement of organized crime in tobacco trafficking, which is taking on a drug-style approach including acts of intimidation and turf wars within certain areas.   Deterrence, education and prevention efforts are underway to help reduce the market for illegal cigarettes in New Brunswick.
Learn more about the RCMP’s Contraband Tobacco Enforcement StrategyJ Division’s Customs and Excise Unit works to ensure the health, safety and economic integrity of New Brunswick by investigating and preventing the smuggling of illegal goods into and out of the province, often by organized crime groups seeking to make a profit.  
Our priorities in New Brunswick include:

• Stemming the flow of contraband tobacco throughout New Brunswick and preventing organized crime from profiting from the sale of illegal cigarettes.
• Investigating organized crime groups involved in cross-border or interprovincial smuggling
• Overseeing New Brunswick’s Jetway program

Our mandate includes investigating and enforcing the following:

• Customs Act, relating to smuggling
• Excise Act, relating to the unlawful manufacture and distribution of spirits and tobacco products
• Export and Import Permits Act and Regulations
• Cultural Property Export and Import Act
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

We also assist the Province of New Brunswick with provincial charges under the Tobacco Tax Act.

For more information on the responsibilities of the Customs and Excise Branch, visit our National site.

For further information please contact:

“J” Division Customs and Excise Enforcement Section

Bathurst: 506-548-7583             
Moncton: 506-851-3370             
Saint-Leonard: 506-423-1055             
Fredericton: 506-452-4819
Saint John: 506-636-5251