LONDON, ON, Dec. 15, 2014 /CNW/ - Serious and Organized Crime investigators of the London Detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) seized approximately 210,000 contraband cigarettes and a 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche as a result of an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) West Region Highway Enforcement Team traffic stop.
On Thursday, December 11, 2014 OPP investigators stopped a vehicle on Highway 401 near Colonel Talbot Road for a Highway Traffic Act violation. During the course of the traffic stop, contraband tobacco was observed within the passenger and cargo areas of the vehicle. RCMP investigators were contacted, attended the location and seized the contraband tobacco and the vehicle under the authority of the Excise Act, 2001.
A 46 year old resident of Ohsweken, Ontario is facing a charge of possessing unstamped tobacco contrary to the Excise Act, 2001 and is scheduled to appear in court in London on February 6, 2015.
"The illicit tobacco market is a burden on all Canadians. It directly supports organized crime entities, and decreases government revenue for health and social programs by hundreds of millions of dollars annually", stated Inspector Andrew Cowan, Officer in Charge of London Detachment. "The RCMP, together with the support and involvement of our partners, is committed to addressing these offences."
Anyone with information regarding the sale and manufacturing of contraband tobacco is asked to contact the RCMP at 1-800-387-0020 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-265-4444.
SOURCE: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Cpl. D'Arcy Cartier, Media Relation Officer, London RCMP Detachment, Office: (519) 645-4329
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