Prosecutions and Seizures

Northern Ontario Region

Significant contraband cigarette seizure at Cornwall Port of Entry

Cornwall, Ontario, May 13, 2010 — The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today that its officers at the relocated Port of Entry in Cornwall, Ontario seized over a quarter of a million dollars worth of contraband cigarettes.

On May 9, border services officers (BSO) referred a rental truck for a secondary examination. During the examination, BSOs discovered two false compartments in the cargo hold of the truck that contained 5,600 cartons of unstamped contraband cigarettes.

A 47-year-old, female non-resident is charged with possession of a tobacco product not properly stamped under the Excise Act. The cigarettes, valued at $268,800, were seized and the driver arrested. The cigarettes were turned over to the Cornwall Regional Task Force.

“This seizure is a prime example of how law enforcement agencies in Ontario are working together to keep contraband tobacco out of our communities,” said Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety. “They continue to demonstrate how important their role is to the safety and security of our communities.”

Smuggling and other Customs Act contraventions may lead to prosecution in a court of law.

Anyone with information about suspicious cross-border activity is encouraged to call the CBSA Border Watch toll-free line at 1-888-502-9060.

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For media information:

Chris Kealey
Communications
Canada Border Services Agency
613-991-5197