WINDSOR, ON, Feb. 1, 2012 /CNW/ - Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Windsor Detachment have arrested two men from Windsor and seized a storage locker full of illegal cigarettes in LaSalle, Ontario. Both men are facing multiple charges.
The cigarettes were seized on January 30, 2012 after a week long investigation. Throughout the investigation, the two men were observed moving cigarettes from a storage locker and distributing them into the local community. The seizure netted approximately 580,000 individual cigarettes in 2400 different cartons as well as a vehicle used to transport the cigarettes.
Sati AL SHADOOD (Age 52) and Hussain Hassam AL MUSAWY (Age 41) both of Windsor, Ontario are currently charged under the Excise Act in relation to possession and sale of unstamped tobacco. AL SHADOOD and AL MUSAWY are scheduled to appear in Windsor Provincial Court on February 28th, 2012. If convicted the men face could face fines in excess of $400,000.00.
"The sale of illegal tobacco products benefits criminal organizations who often use their profits to finance other criminal activities" said Inspector Alex Mills, Officer in Charge of the Windsor Detachment. He added, "The sale of illegal tobacco products means millions of dollars of lost revenue for both the Canadian and Ontario governments which means that taxpayers must make up the difference through increases in taxes to finance social programs, employment programs and health care."
For additional information on the harm that illegal tobacco products impose on our society please visit:
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/pubs/tobac-tabac/tobacco-tabac-broch-eng.htm
For photos related to this investigation please visit the following link and click on the associated news release:
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/on/news-nouvelles/index-eng.htm
If you have information about the sale and distribution of illegal tobacco products please contact your nearest RCMP Detachment at 1-800-387-0020 or you can anonymously supply information through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
For further information:
Sgt Steven Richardson
Windsor RCMP Detachment
519-972-9595 ext 249
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