In a major crackdown on contraband tobacco, RCMP officers seized two dozen pallets containing 400,000 unstamped cigarettes from a semi-truck in Saskatchewan. The operation led to multiple charges against a truck driver from Brampton, Ontario.
RCMP Superintendent Murray Chamberlin stated that the seizure prevented the illegal distribution of cigarettes worth potentially millions of dollars, curbing a significant loss in tax revenue.
The incident unfolded last week when highway patrol officers stopped the truck on Highway 11 near Lumsden, Saskatchewan. Upon inspecting the trailer, officers discovered the unstamped tobacco and alerted the RCMP for further investigation.
Two individuals, the truck’s driver and a passenger, were detained during the operation. The driver, a 24-year-old Brampton resident, is now facing one charge under the Criminal Code, one under the Excise Act, and two charges under the Tobacco Tax Act.
The passenger was released without charges. Regina police and Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan officers also contributed to the investigation.
This seizure highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to disrupt the illegal tobacco trade, which continues to impact public finances and legal businesses.