Customs and Excise

Our section is one of the first in Canada to integrate both a federal Customs and Excise section and provincial tobacco tax inspectors, all of whom are RCMP members.

Mandate: We enforce the laws governing the:

• the international movement of goods;
  
• the illicit manufacture, distribution or possession of contraband products (including tobacco and spirits);
  
• the illicit traffic of critical high technology and strategic goods; and
  regulations that impose non-tariff (permit) controls on the international movement of commodities.

How to identify contraband tobacco

Baggies: The most common contraband cigarettes are sold in bags containing 200 cigarettes. These ‘baggies’ are sold on the street for between $20 and $40 per bag. The baggies are usually unmarked, although some have a United States Surgeon General warning on them.

Missing label or tear strip: By law, all cigarettes and tobacco must have a Health Canada warning along with a label or ‘tear strip’ on them, which indicates that the required duties and taxes have been paid on them. The manufacturer's name and address, or the manufacturer's permit number must also appear on the package.

Counterfeit: These cigarettes are often manufactured in foreign factories and packaged to look like legitimate Canadian cigarette brands.

Important Links:

National Customs and Excise Site

2008 Contraband Tobacco Enforcement Strategy

PEI Crime Stoppers

For further information please contact: 902-566-6900