CORNWALL, ON, Dec. 20, 2012 /CNW/ - During the early morning hours of November 24th, 2012, while conducting surveillance in the South Glengarry area, Cornwall Regional Task Force (CRTF) members observed a suspicious vehicle approach a boathouse in a known smuggling area. Police stopped the suspect vehicle, a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, shortly after it left the boathouse. Jason MAGILL (age 26) and Curtis GODDARD (age 25), both from Cornwall, were arrested for being in possession of twenty (20) cases of contraband cigarettes. Their vehicle was seized. A subsequent search of the boat house yielded the seizure of another thirty (30) cases of tobacco as well as a smuggling boat.
On November 27th, 2012, CRTF members observed a boat smuggling contraband cigarettes in the South Glengarry area. As members approached the shoreline where the boat was landing, a suspect Ford F-150 pickup arrived. Members ordered the occupant, Bobby RICHARDSON (age 31) from Newington, out of the vehicle. The boat made a desperate escape, smashing through shallow water. During the boat's escape, RICHARDSON attempted to flee, running to a nearby vehicle parked on the road. CRTF members caught up and arrested RICHARDSON along with the other occupants of the escape vehicle, Ronald BEAUDRY (age 52) and Catherine LEFEVRE (age 50), both from Williamstown. Forty (40) cases of contraband cigarettes had been unloaded from the boat and left on the dock.
On the evening of November 28th, while patrolling South Glengarry, CRTF members found vehicle tracks in the snow, leading to a camping area that is closed for the season. Members entered the campground and located a Ford F-150 pickup truck and a Dodge Caravan, unoccupied, by the water's edge. The vehicles were loaded with seventy-seven (77) cases of contraband cigarettes. Fresh tracks were visible leading away from the vehicles. With the assistance of SD&G OPP officers, containment was established in the area to locate the suspects. Approximately four hours later, police located the two suspects hiding in a marsh. The suspects were identified as Ryan LAPIERRE (age 23) from South Glengarry and Geoffrey JARVO (age 38) from Cornwall.
In the early evening hours of December 6th, 2012, CRTF members located a boat coming to shore in South Glengarry. When members approached the drop location, they found a truck waiting for the contraband. Two unidentified males were on shore by the truck when police arrived. The males jumped into the freezing water and swam to the smuggling boat to escape. Twenty (20) cases of contraband cigarettes left on shore were seized.
On December 9th, CRTF members were called to the Cornwall Point of Entry (POE) where Adam FRANCIS was arrested for attempting to bring twenty-one (21) cases of contraband tobacco through the border-crossing. FRANCIS was held pending a bail hearing when police determined he had outstanding arrest warrants held by three (3) other policing agencies.
On December 12th, 2012, while conducting surveillance, CRTF members followed a suspicious vehicle from Cornwall to a business located in South Glengarry. In the parking lot of this business, members observed an exchange between this vehicle's occupants and occupants of another vehicle. Members moved in to intercept the exchange and Alfredo VILLAVICENCIO (age 29) from Brossard, QC, was arrested for being in possession of approximately 500 grams of marihuana and was charged under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
Also on December 12th, 2012, CRTF members were called to South Stormont, where the OPP had pulled over a suspended driver and executed an arrest warrant. Jan HOGENKAMP (age 65) was found to be transporting approximately two (2) cases of contraband tobacco, and was therefore additionally charged by the CRTF.
The individuals noted above, who have been charged under the provisions of the Excise Act, 2001, also face charges under the provincial Tobacco Tax Act for possession of unmarked cigarettes.
If you have any information regarding criminal activity in your area, you can contact the CRTF at 1-613-937-2800 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
The CRTF is a joint forces partnership that includes the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada Border Services Agency, Ontario Provincial Police, Cornwall Community Police Service and the Ontario Ministry of Finance.
SOURCE: Cornwall Regional Task Force
Sgt. Lee Côté
Cornwall RTF
613-937-7356
Sgt. Kristine Rae
Ontario Provincial Police
613-285-5479
Share this article