" C" Division - News Releases

(Cornwall, February 14, 2006) - Last week, the members of the Cornwall/Valleyfield Regional Task Force, along with their law enforcement parters, were active in the fight against cigarette smuggling, seizing the equivalent of 1,300 re-sealable bags of illegal cigarettes and arresting two subjects.

On February 9, members of the Regional Task Force stopped a vehicle travelling on Cornwall Centre Road near Highway 138. Located in the vehicle were 300 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes. The driver and passenger were arrested under Section 32(1) of the Excise Act, 2001 (unlawful possession of a tobacco product that was not stamped in accordance with the provisions of the Excise Act, 2001), and were later released to appear in court at a later date.

On February 8, members of the RCMP Marine Unit were patrolling on the St. Lawrence River. During the afternoon patrol they observed suspicious activity near a pontoon pleasure craft on the West shore of St.-Regis on the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory. When they approached the pontoon, they observed cases of contraband tobacco and subsequently seized 1000 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes under the Excise Act, 2001. No suspects were located and no charges were laid.

-30-

For information:

Sgt. Michael Harvey
(613)937-2800 Ext. 293
Cornwall RCMP Detachment