Sudbury RCMP seize Illegal Tobacco

SUDBURY, ON, March 9, 2012 /CNW/ - On Tuesday, February 28th, 2012, as the result of an investigation involving the Sudbury Federal Enforcement Section and Commercial Crime Section of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Michel Gagnon from Timmins, Ontario, was arrested and faces charges for possession of a tobacco product not properly stamped under the Excise Act, 2001. A vehicle stop and search of a residence resulted in the seizure of 254 illegal unstamped cartons of cigarettes and 108 brand name cartons where appropriate Provincial taxes were not paid. In total, 362 cartons of illegal cigarettes were seized which amounts to 72,400 cigarettes. Mr. Gagnon will appear in court on April 17th, 2012 in Timmins, Ontario.

Although the effects of illegal tobacco activities are not obvious, all Canadians, in one way or another, feel the repercussions of these activities in the form of;

• erodes respect for the law;
• increases the tax burden for taxpayers, as federal and provincial governments lose millions of dollars in revenue;
• prevents legitimate businesses from carrying out their activities in a climate of fair competition;
• encourages young people to take up smoking through unrestricted access to inexpensive cigarettes; and undermining of public health efforts to decrease tobacco use.

If anyone has any information in regards to the sale or possession of contraband tobacco, please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or the Sudbury RCMP detachment at 705-671-0645.

Cpl. Alain Bonhomme
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Sudbury Federal Enforcement Section
[phone]

Cpl. Blair J. Kelly
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
A/Media Relations Coordinator - "O" Division
[phone] Ext. 229