Five People Arrested for Possession of Contraband Tobacco

    CORNWALL, ON, Jan. 5 /CNW/ - Between December 23rd, 2008, and January
3rd, 2009, the Cornwall RCMP Detachment arrested five people for possession of
contraband tobacco after assisting officers from the Canada Border Services
Agency, Cornwall Community Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police and the
Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service.
    The interception of these five vehicles by our partner law enforcement
agencies resulted in significant seizures in the following regions:2 vehicles in Cornwall, Ontario
    2 vehicles in South Glengarry, Ontario
    1 vehicle in Akwesasne, OntarioThese interceptions permitted the arrest of five individuals (3 from
Cornwall, Ontario, 1 from Snye, Quebec, 1 from Gowanda, New York) who will be
facing charges of possession of a tobacco product not properly stamped
according to the Excise Act 2001. One of the individuals arrested was also
charged for failing to remain at the scene of an accident as well as and three
counts for breaching a probation order as a result of a motor vehicle accident
that occurred while he was transporting contraband tobacco in Cornwall,
Ontario.Items Seized:

    -   5 vehicles
    -   5,037 assorted resealable bags (cartons)
    -   403 kilograms of fine cut tobacco"Those who purchase contraband tobacco products are financing criminal
organizations in their communities who traffic drugs and firearms", said Sgt.
Michael Harvey of the RCMP. "There needs to be collective action from everyone
to stop the illicit tobacco trade and it begins with the consumer of those
products."

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