Cornwall Regional Task Force seizes large amounts of contraband tobacco and
arrests 14 individuals

CORNWALL, ON, June 3 /CNW/ - The Cornwall Regional Task Force (CRTF) made or assisted in contraband tobacco seizures in the following regions between May 18th, 2010 and June 2nd, 2010:

• 4 seizures at the Cornwall, Ontario Port of Entry
• 2 seizures in Cornwall, Ontario
• 5 seizures in South Glengarry, Ontario
• 1 seizure in Nation Township, Ontario
• 1 seizure in North Glengarry, Ontario

These seizures resulted in the arrest of nine individuals who face charges under the Excise Act 2001 and/or the Provincial Tobacco Tax Act for possession of a tobacco product not properly stamped:

3 from Cornwall, Ontario,
1 from Akwesasne, Ontario,
1 from Dunbar, Ontario,
2 from Nation Township, Ontario
1 from South Glengarry, Ontario
1 from Garden Village, Ontario

And

also resulted in the arrest and charges of the following five individuals:

46 year old Robert David Bodium and 46 year old Suzanne Marie Sorrie, both from Mississauga, Ontario; 45 year old Ian Gordon Conklin from Augusta, Ontario; 30 year old William Laughing from Hogansburg, New York; 20 year old Brian Laprade from Massena, New York.  They also face charges under the Provincial Tobacco Tax Act.

Items Seized:

• 7 vehicles described as 2006 Pontiac G6, 2008 Dodge Caravan, 2010 Dodge Caravan, 2006 Chrysler 300, 2006 Chevrolet Impala, 2004 Chevrolet Venture van, 1998 Mazda UDL
• 3 vessels described as a 1 duck boat with a Mercury 200 outboard motor, 1 Princecraft Springbok aluminum boat with an electric motor, 1 fishing boat with an Evinrude E-TEC 40 motor
• 18,810 assorted re-sealable bags and cartons each containing 200 contraband cigarettes
• 2,391 kilograms of fine cut tobacco that were contained in a total of 175 garbage bags

The CRTF continues to assist the Canada Border Services Agency with their seizures of contraband tobacco at the Cornwall Port of Entry.  The CRTF also continues to address the complaints by local residents of suspicious activity.  If anyone notices suspicious activity, please contact the CRTF at 613-937-2800 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

For further information:

Sgt. Michael Harvey 
613-937-2831
Cornwall Regional Task Force

Sgt. Kristine Rae
Ontario Provincial Police
613-285-5479