Four charged in cross-border tobacco smuggling operation

REGINA, SK, Oct. 28, 2026 /CNW/ -- A joint investigation between the RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region's Transnational Serious and Organized Crime (TSOC) team in Saskatchewan and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has resulted in 36 charges against four individuals for offences under the Criminal Code, the Excise Act, and the Customs Act.

Nearly 116,000 kg of tobacco was allegedly illegally transported into Canada from the US and interprovincially between 2020 and 2024.

Following a complex investigation, TSOC and CBSA investigators uncovered a smuggling ring that exploited Canada's transportation industry, including the extended railway system. The accused are alleged to have illegally transported nearly 116,000 kg of tobacco into Canada from the United States, as well as interprovincially, between October 2020 and April 2024.

On Sep. 21, 2026, the four accused were charged with:

• Conspiracy to smuggle into Canada contrary to section 159(1) of the Customs Act, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code;
• Conspiracy to transport tobacco contrary to section 121.1(1) of the Criminal Code, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code;
• Conspiracy to possess raw leaf tobacco contrary to section 30(1) of the Excise Act, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code; and,
• Conspiracy to evade compliance contrary to section 219 of the Excise Act, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code.

Each accused also faces additional charges for their respective role in the smuggling operation.

Johnny Gamboa (48), a resident of Toronto, Ont., was charged with:

• Keeping, acquiring, disposing of goods illegally imported (raw leaf tobacco) contrary to section 155 of the Customs Act;
• Transporting of tobacco products and raw leaf tobacco contrary to section 121.1(1) of the Criminal Code;
• Falsifying or destroying records contrary to section 219 of the Excise Act;
• False statements or evasion of duties contrary to section 153 of the Customs Act (x2);
• Smuggle into Canada contrary to section 159(1) of the Customs Act;
• Keeping, acquiring, disposing of goods illegally imported contrary to section 155 of the Customs Act;
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 contrary to section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code; and,
• Possession of property obtained from offences contrary to section 230 of the Excise Act.

Harminder Grewal (47), a resident of Brampton, Ont., was charged with:

• Keeping, acquiring, disposing of goods illegally imported (raw leaf tobacco) contrary to section 155 of the Customs Act;
• Transporting of tobacco products and raw leaf tobacco contrary to section 121.1(1) of the Criminal Code;
• Falsifying or destroying records contrary to section 219 of the Excise Act;
• Smuggle into Canada contrary to section 159(1) of the Customs Act;
• Keeping, acquiring, disposing of goods illegally imported contrary to section 155 of the Customs Act; and,
• False statements or evasion of duties contrary to section 153 of the Customs Act.

Rinnamoon Haddad (50), a resident of Caledon East, Ont., was charged with:

• Keeping, acquiring, disposing of goods illegally imported (raw leaf tobacco) contrary to section 155 of the Customs Act;
• Transporting of tobacco products and raw leaf tobacco contrary to section 121.1(1) of the Criminal Code;
• Falsifying or destroying records contrary to section 219 of the Excise Act; and,
• False statements or evasion of duties contrary to section 153 of the Customs Act.

Avikesh Sharma (49), a resident of Mississauga, Ont., was charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 contrary to section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code.

Gamboa, Grewal, Haddad, and Sharma are scheduled to appear at the Toronto Provincial Court on Oct. 29, 2026.

"This investigation demonstrates the critical role of strong partnerships and coordinated efforts in combatting the illegal tobacco trade. These collaborative efforts are essential to identifying and disrupting the networks involved in the importation of illegal tobacco into Canada."
    -   Chief Superintendent Brad Wirachowsky, Acting Regional Commander, RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region

"The dismantling of this sophisticated smuggling operation speaks to the expertise of CBSA intelligence and border officers, and the importance of our partnerships with the RCMP and other collaborating law enforcement organizations. By disrupting this transnational network, the CBSA and its partners are protecting Canada's economy from smuggling operations that fund organized crime and rob governments of the revenue that supports the programs and services that Canadians depend on."
   -   Janalee Bell-Boychuk, Regional Director General, Prairie Region, CBSA

TSOC would like to thank CBSA, the RCMP Federal Policing Central Region, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Chicago High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program, the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited Police Service, and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada for their support in this investigation.

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SOURCE Canada Border Services Agency

Contacts: Canada Border Services Agency, Media Relations, [email protected], 1-877-761-5945; RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region Media, Communications & Media Relations, [email protected]