Ontario Provincial Police Vehicle Check leads to the RCMP Seizure of Contraband Cigarettes

    CORNWALL, ON, Dec. 15 /CNW/ - A 22 year old male resident from
Hogansburg, New York faces a charge under the Excise Act 2001 for possession
of a tobacco product not properly stamped after an Ontario Provincial Police
officer observed cardboard boxes of contraband cigarettes inside the vehicle
at a R.I.D.E. checkpoint.
    On December 11th, 2008, officers from the OPP were conducting the
R.I.D.E. program in Cornwall, Ontario with the assistance of officers from the
RCMP Cornwall Detachment. While conducting a vehicle check, an OPP officer
observed cardboard boxes of contraband cigarettes in a 2004 Buick Rendezvous.
The officer asked the RCMP officers to assist.
    The RCMP officers seized 1,000 resealable bags of contraband cigarettes
believed to have been manufactured in the United States and smuggled into
Canada. The vehicle was also seized. The driver was arrested and released to
appear at the Cornwall court on January 29th, 2009. The driver was also issued
tickets from the OPP for driving while disqualified and failing to produce
insurance.
    "Law enforcement agencies working together gain more leverage against the
criminal organizations who are involved in the illicit tobacco trade", said
Sgt. Michael Harvey of the RCMP. "One of the main reasons we are seeing more
seizures is because law enforcement on both sides of the border and within
Canada are partnering more. We have better integrated intelligence and more
integrated operations".

For further information: Sgt. Michael Harvey, RCMP Cornwall Detachment,
[phone]