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More than 5.9 Million Contraband Cigarettes Seized and 18 Suspects Arrested by Police in the Valleyfield Region
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Valleyfield, May 31, 2010 – From May 14 to 28, the Valleyfield RCMP and their Sûreté du Québec partners were quite active, seizing more than 5.9 million illegal cigarettes, loose leaf tobacco, boats and other vehicles used for the transportation of contraband tobacco and cash valued in excess of $861,000. Eighteen persons were arrested and could face charges under the Excise Act, 2001 and the Québec Tobacco Tax Act.
In summary, during the night of May 28, members of the RCMP arrested, in collaboration with their Sûreté du Québec counterparts, five smugglers as they were unloading a shipment of illegal tobacco on the shore of Lake Saint-François in Rivière-Beaudette. The boat used by the smugglers was seized, along with 548,000 cigarettes and 56 garbage bags filled with 1,347 kilograms of loose leaf tobacco.
Last May 27, the police arrested two individuals and seized 750,000 contraband cigarettes and a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck in Saint-Anicet. The officers caught the suspects red-handed, as they were hiding nearby when the two suspects proceeded to unload a shipment of contraband cigarettes.
Also during the night of May 27, the RCMP, with the assistance of the Sûreté du Québec, seized 900,000 illegal cigarettes and arrested two suspects as a result of an operation conducted in Rivière-Beaudette.
On May 26, at approximately 1:00 a.m., the police intercepted a pickup truck on Montée Caza Road in Cazaville in which they found more than 238,800 cigarettes packaged in ziploc type bags. The cigarettes and vehicle were seized, and the female driver of the pickup truck was arrested.
During the same night, the police arrested two male suspects as they were unloading a shipment of illegal cigarettes on the shore of the St. Lawrence River, near Saint-Anicet. They arrested the suspects and seized a total of 520,000 contraband cigarettes.
Last, on May 14, the police seized a very large quantity of illegal cigarettes following a short investigation in the Saint-Anicet area. More specifically, the investigation led to the seizure of more than 3,010,000 cigarettes, the arrest of eight suspects and the forfeiture of nearly $8,000 in cash.
It is illegal to possess or sell tobacco products that are not packaged or stamped as required by Canadian law. The illicit tobacco trade presents a serious and growing threat to public safety and health in Canada. People need to be aware that they are funding criminal activity when they purchase contraband tobacco products.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is committed to leading an effective fight against tobacco smuggling in the Montérégie region and encourages citizens to report any information on suspected illicit activity by individuals or groups to the investigators of the RCMP Valleyfield Office at 450-377-3223. All tips will be kept confidential.
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For information:
François Blais, Sergeant
Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment
450-377-3223
