Major seizure for “A” Division

OTTAWA – June 7, 2010 - On March 31, 2010, while executing a search warrant at a home in Ottawa’s west end, the “A” Division Customs & Excise Section seized more than $134,000 in cash from the sale of contraband cigarettes. During the search, “A” Division investigators discovered the tenant was operating a major retail business from the residence, where they found a myriad of items such as iPods, clothing, jewellery, household products, etc. Sixty-one year-old Franco-Ontarian Pierre Tremblay was accused of possession of unstamped tobacco products, in accordance with the Excise Act of 2001.

This joint operation, carried out in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Revenue, the Ottawa Police Service and the “A” Division Proceeds of Crime Section, is part of the RCMP Contraband Tobacco Enforcement Strategy. S/Sgt. Pierre Hamel, NCO i/c Customs & Excise Section, explains the importance of such seizures. “We’re helping the economy when we seize these illegal cigarettes, which cause significant financial loss. Convenience stores in particular are losing a lot of money because cigarette sales are a big part of their business.”

As set forth in the Contraband Tobacco Enforcement Strategy, the RCMP mandate is to conduct coordinated surge enforcement operations in high-risk locations to disrupt the contraband tobacco chain by targeting criminal organizations and seizing the proceeds of their crimes. The success of such operations is not measured solely by the number of cigarettes seized. “In this case, for example, a massive amount of money was made from the sale of cigarettes. So the suspect not only risks losing all of the profits from the sale of illicit tobacco products, but also faces criminal prosecution.”

With the ever-increasing availability of contraband tobacco in the Outaouais and the close involvement of organized crime, the number of seizures is growing exponentially.  Unfortunately, honest, hard-working Canadians are the ones feeling the brunt of this illegal activity. It is therefore crucial that every effort be made to curb the contraband tobacco trade both here in the National Capital Region and nationwide.

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Information:
Sergeant Marc Ménard
Communication and Public Relations Unit
RCMP “A” Division
613-993-1248
twitter.com/RCMP_A_Division