Contraband Tobacco is a Growing Problem in Western Canada, Manitoba Specifically

Winnipeg- (February 9, 2012) – Today, the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT) commended the RCMP and members of the provincial government’s taxation investigations unit for the execution of the raid that took place yesterday in Rosser. The fact that several loaded handguns were found alongside the nearly 1.5 million contraband cigarettes illustrates the seriousness of the link between illegal cigarettes and violent crime.

“We are glad that the RCMP demonstrated a willingness to take strong action on this, and the sheer number of contraband cigarettes seized is appalling,” said Gary Grant, a 39-year veteran of the Toronto Police service and spokesperson for the NCACT. “The number of guns found during the raid should serve as a wake-up call to everyone on the serious links between illegal cigarettes and organized crime.”

There is a strong connection between organized crime and the manufacturing and sale of contraband cigarettes. Tobacco sold illegally is the cash cow of organized crime and finances the activities – including drugs, guns, and human trafficking – of more than 175 organized criminal gangs, according to the RCMP. In Canada, there are more than 50 illegal cigarette manufacturing facilities and more than 300 smoke shacks operating outside of any government regulation.

“It’s bad enough that criminals are allowed to profit by way of this illegal distribution system,” continued Grant. “But illegal cigarettes work directly against larger tobacco control efforts. They are a key source of youth smoking, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health has found that contraband tobacco’s easy availability is one of the reasons why youth smoking rates have remained relatively high.”

“The NCACT believes that it is critical for government to take action against contraband cigarettes, and it is equally important for government to similarly target illegal cigarette manufacturing facilities and smoke shacks operating in the province,” continued Grant. “Without continued meaningful action, this problem will only get worse.”

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About NCACT
The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco is a Canadian advocacy group formed with the participation of businesses, organizations and individuals concerned about the growing danger of contraband cigarettes. NCACT members share the goals of working together to educate people and urge government to take quick action to stop this growing threat.

The members of the NCACT include: Canadian Convenience Stores Association (CCSA), Retail Council of Canada, Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers Council, National Convenience Stores Distributors Association (NACDA), Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Frontier Duty Free Association, Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers, Fédération des Chambres de Commerce du Québec (FCCQ), Conseil du Patronat du Québec (CPQ), l’Association des marchands dépanneurs et épiciers du Québec (AMDEQ), Toronto Crime Stoppers, National Citizen’s coalition, and The Customs & Immigration Union (CIU).

For more information, contact:
Michael Powell
(p) 1-866-950-5551
(e) info@stopcontrabandtobacco.ca

Media Releases

London- (January 26, 2012) Tuesday’s seizure of 75,000 contraband cigarettes by London RCMP reinforces the extent of the illegal tobacco problem in the London Area. In the fall of 2011, the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT) launched an advertising campaign in the city to help raise public awareness of this problem.

“Seizures of illegal tobacco, such as Tuesday’s, are an all-too-regular occurrence, which is why we launched our awareness campaign last fall,” said Gary Grant, NCACT spokesperson and 39-year veteran of the Toronto Police Service. “While these busts speak to the hard work that the RCMP and other law enforcement agencies are doing to stop smugglers, it is an equally startling reminder of the scope of the problem. In fact, the NCACT commissioned a study that found that 25% of cigarette butts at a number of London locations were contraband.”

Illegal tobacco seizures only hint at the extent of the much larger problem. Despite their diligence, the RCMP estimates that they only stop 5 to 6 percent of contraband tobacco in Canada. Busts like this can only hinder smugglers temporarily, as the size and scope of their operations are large enough to keep going.

“It’s important to remember that the trade in illegal cigarettes is the domain of organized crime,” continued Grant. “The RCMP estimates that there are more than 175 criminal organizations using the sale of contraband tobacco to finance their activities, including guns, drugs, and human trafficking. Effectively, illegal cigarettes are the cash cow for some of Canada’s least desirable elements.”

Contraband tobacco’s negative social effects extend beyond its connection to crime. The low price and easy accessibility of Illegal cigarettes make it a prime source for youth smoking. In fact, a recent study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health found that contraband tobacco’s availability was a contributor to Ontario’s relatively high youth smoking rates. Indeed, NCACT’s study in London found that 35% of cigarette butts near London high schools were contraband.

“Tobacco smuggling comes at a tremendous social and economic cost, and the tools we have to stop it are insufficient,” concluded Grant. “It is time for meaningful action to address this serious problem.”

Gary Grant is available will be available for media interviews January 26th and 27th.

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About NCACT
The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco is a Canadian advocacy group formed with the participation of businesses, organizations and individuals concerned about the growing danger of contraband cigarettes. NCACT members share the goals of working together to educate people and urge government to take quick action to stop this growing threat.

The members of the NCACT include: Canadian Convenience Stores Association (CCSA), Retail Council of Canada, Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers Council, National Convenience Stores Distributors Association (NACDA), Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Frontier Duty Free Association, Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers, Fédération des Chambres de Commerce du Québec (FCCQ), Conseil du Patronat du Québec (CPQ), l’Association des marchands dépanneurs et épiciers du Québec (AMDEQ), Toronto Crime Stoppers, National Citizen’s coalition, The Customs & Immigration Union (CIU), the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, and the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters.

For more information, contact:
Michael Powell
(p) 1-866-950-5551
(e) info@stopcontrabandtobacco.ca

Media Releases

Governments must follow through on commitments to toughen penalties

Ottawa- (January 20, 2012) During National Non-Smoking Week, the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT) is underlining how easy access to illegal cigarettes undermines every one of Canada’s tobacco control measures.

“Governments across Canada have gone to great lengths to control access to tobacco, including stringent ID and display requirements,” said Gary Grant, a 39-year veteran of the Toronto Police service and spokesperson for the NCACT. “Sadly, contraband tobacco’s ready availability and low price undermine these efforts.”

Illegal cigarettes are readily available throughout Canada. Normally sold in clear resealable plastic bags, a “baggie” of 200 can cost as much as $70 less than legal product. Contraband tobacco is distributed through more than 300 smoke shacks that are located near major Canadian cities, as well as directly to consumers through a drug-dealer system. Contraband dealers don’t check for ID, which makes illegal cigarettes a prime source for youth smoking. This was reinforced by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, which found that contraband tobacco’s easy availability is one of the reasons why Ontario’s youth smoking rates have remained relatively high.

“It is troubling that the illegal market offers young people such easy access to tobacco. It’s similarly disconcerting that it also puts cash into the coffers of some of Canada’s least desirable elements,” continued Grant. “By the RCMP’s estimates, more than 175 criminal gangs use illegal cigarettes to finance their other activities, including guns drugs and human smuggling,”

During the last federal election, the Conservatives committed to introducing legislation that would create mandatory minimum sentences for contraband smuggling, as well as a new RCMP taskforce to deal with contraband tobacco issues. The Prime Minister reinforced this commitment in his statement kicking off National Non-Smoking Week. Similarly, during Ontario’s provincial election the Liberals committed to continuing the fight against contraband.

“Implementation of tougher anti-contraband measures by the federal and provincial governments is critical to the success of Canada’s stop-smoking initiatives,” concluded Grant. “As long as 200 illegal cigarettes cost less than going to the movies and are so easily accessible to Canada’s youth, governments must follow through on their commitments and make combating illegal cigarettes a priority”

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About NCACT
The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco is a Canadian advocacy group formed with the participation of businesses, organizations and individuals concerned about the growing danger of contraband cigarettes. NCACT members share the goals of working together to educate people and urge government to take quick action to stop this growing threat.

The members of the NCACT include: Canadian Convenience Stores Association (CCSA), Retail Council of Canada, Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers Council, National Convenience Stores Distributors Association (NACDA), Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Frontier Duty Free Association, Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers, Fédération des Chambres de Commerce du Québec (FCCQ), Conseil du Patronat du Québec (CPQ), l’Association des marchands dépanneurs et épiciers du Québec (AMDEQ), Toronto Crime Stoppers, National Citizen’s coalition, The Customs & Immigration Union (CIU), the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, and the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters.

For more information, contact:
Michael Powell
(p) 1-866-950-5551
(e) info@stopcontrabandtobacco.

Media Releases, Uncategorized

Seizure of contraband tobacco from Brandon-area store helps stop problem from spreading

Ottawa- (November 16, 2011) The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT) applauds the government of Manitoba for taking quick action against a recently-opened smoke shack near Brandon. Last evening, a Manitoba Finance special investigation unit seized almost 90,000 contraband cigarettes from the store, which opened last week.

“It is good news that the province acted quickly to seize contraband from this smoke shack,” said Gary Grant, a 39-year veteran of the Toronto Police service and spokesperson for the NCACT. “The experience in other jurisdictions, particularly Ontario and Quebec, has seen government inaction lead to an expansion of the smoke shack network and a growth in the influence of organized crime.”

There are currently more than 300 smoke shacks operating in Ontario and Quebec, which usually pay little regard to federal and provincial regulations, including for packaging, display, and ID requirements. The RCMP has found that contraband tobacco, like that sold at smoke shacks, finances the illegal activities of more than 175 criminal gangs, including guns, drugs, and human smuggling.

“Inspecting smoke shacks is only one step in fighting contraband tobacco” continued Grant. “Governments must starve the demand for illegal cigarettes by targeting the supply. This means dealing with the 50 illegal manufacturing facilities that operate within Canada; increasing penalties for and enforcement of smuggling; introducing licensing requirements for non-tobacco cigarette manufacturing materials; and improving coordination between different governments and police forces.”

“We are always asking that government take strong action against contraband tobacco,” concluded Grant. “Quick action towards this smoke shack is just that. It is important that, in the weeks ahead, the government of Manitoba continue to be vigilant in ensuring contraband does not reappear at the store. We also hope that other jurisdictions will follow their lead.”

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About NCACT

The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco is a Canadian advocacy group formed with the participation of businesses, organizations and individuals concerned about the growing danger of contraband cigarettes. NCACT members share the goals of working together to educate people and urge government to take quick action to stop this growing threat.

The members of the NCACT include: Canadian Convenience Stores Association (CCSA), Retail Council of Canada, Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers Council, National Convenience Stores Distributors Association (NACDA), Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Frontier Duty Free Association, Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers, Fédération des Chambres de Commerce du Québec (FCCQ), Conseil du Patronat du Québec (CPQ), l’Association des marchands dépanneurs et épiciers du Québec (AMDEQ), Toronto Crime Stoppers, National Citizen’s coalition, and The Customs & Immigration Union (CIU).

For more information, contact:
Michael Powell
(p) 1-866-950-5551
(e) info@stopcontrabandtobacco.ca

Media Releases

Recent seizures emphasize the national scope of the problem

Ottawa- (November 4, 2011) Recent seizures of truckloads of illegal cigarettes in British Columbia and Nova Scotia emphasize that the problem of illegal tobacco is spreading throughout the country, says the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT). Tuesday, the RCMP announced that they had broken up a smuggling ring in the greater Vancouver area, seizing nearly 600,000 cartons of illegal cigarettes. Wednesday in Cape Breton, on Canada’s other coast, the RCMP announced that they had seized almost a million illegal cigarettes.

“This is dramatic evidence that the problem of illegal tobacco is spreading nationally,” said Gary Grant, a 39-year veteran of the Toronto Police service and current spokesperson for the NCACT. “Too often we think of contraband tobacco as a problem predominantly limited to Ontario and Quebec, but these seizures are a stark reminder that the criminals that operate the illegal tobacco trade are spreading their influence.”

Illegal cigarettes cause a number of associated problems. At the RCMP’s last count, the contraband tobacco trade was used by more than 175 criminal gangs to finance their other illegal activities, including guns, drugs, and human smuggling. They also make a mockery of Canada’s tobacco control regulations. They are often sold in clear plastic “baggies” that carry none of the government’s health warnings. Their low price – a baggie of 200 illegal smokes can cost less than the price of a movie ticket, up to $70 less than legal product – makes them particularly attractive to youth.

“Busts are always good news, but these reveal a new level of sophistication from the contraband gangs, with police seizures including very elaborate counterfeits of legitimate products,” said Grant. “More advanced contraband is a direct result of government not taking enough action to curb this problem.”

During the federal election, the government committed to creating a new RCMP taskforce dedicated to contraband tobacco, as well as creating a new offence for contraband smuggling. The NCACT hopes that the government will move forward on these in the very near future.

“The influence of contraband tobacco is spreading, and the gangs it funds are getting stronger,” concluded Grant. “We cannot let this trend continue; government must take real action now.”

About NCACT
The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco is a Canadian advocacy group formed with the participation of businesses, organizations and individuals concerned about the growing danger of contraband cigarettes. NCACT members share the goals of working together to educate people and urge government to take quick action to stop this growing threat.

The members of the NCACT include: Canadian Convenience Stores Association (CCSA), Retail Council of Canada, Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers Council, National Convenience Stores Distributors Association (NACDA), Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Frontier Duty Free Association, Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers, Fédération des Chambres de Commerce du Québec (FCCQ), Conseil du Patronat du Québec (CPQ), l’Association des marchands dépanneurs et épiciers du Québec (AMDEQ), Toronto Crime Stoppers, National Citizen’s coalition, and The Customs & Immigration Union (CIU).

For more information, contact:
Michael Powell
(p) 1-866-950-5551
(e) info@stopcontrabandtobacco.ca

Media Releases, Uncategorized

NCACT blankets London with anti-contraband tobacco message

London- (August 30th, 2011) This week, the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT) launched an ad campaign in the London area to raise consumer awareness of the harms that result from the purchase of contraband tobacco. The campaign will feature billboards and bus advertisements that highlight the illegality of contraband tobacco.

“We are launching this campaign because contraband tobacco is a serious problem in London and in Ontario,” said NCACT spokesperson Gary Grant. “Recent studies of tobacco use in the London area found that more than 1 in 4 cigarettes consumed were illegal.”

Contraband tobacco users need to know about the impact of illegal cigarettes. Contraband tobacco is a cash cow for illegal gangs. At the RCMP’s last count, more than 175 criminal organizations used the sale of illegal tobacco to bank roll their activities, including drugs, guns, and human trafficking. Illegal cigarettes also cost governments in Canada billions of dollars in lost tax revenue.

“Using contraband tobacco carries a heavy personal and societal cost. Individuals face fines for its possession or use, and consuming it lines the pockets of Canada’s worst criminal elements,” concluded Grant. “Those are costs that aren’t worth any price.”

About NCACT
The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco is a Canadian advocacy group formed with the participation of businesses, organizations and individuals concerned about the growing danger of contraband cigarettes. NCACT members share the goals of working together to educate people and urge government to take quick action to stop this growing threat.

The members of the NCACT include: Canadian Convenience Stores Association (CCSA), Retail Council of Canada, Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers Council, National Convenience Stores Distributors Association (NACDA), Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Frontier Duty Free Association, Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers, Fédération des Chambres de Commerce du Québec (FCCQ), Conseil du Patronat du Québec (CPQ), l’Association des marchands dépanneurs et épiciers du Québec (AMDEQ), Toronto Crime Stoppers, National Citizen’s coalition, and The Customs & Immigration Union (CIU).

For more information, contact:
Michael Powell
(p) 1-866-950-5551
(e) info@stopcontrabandtobacco.ca

Media Releases

Police must also target illegal manufacturing facilities and smoke shacks

Montreal- (June 14, 2011) Today, the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT) commended police services for the execution of search warrants at Akwesasne, Kanesatake, and in Oka. However, the NCACT believes that while it is critical for government to take action against drug trafficking, it is also important for government to similarly target illegal cigarette manufacturing facilities and smoke shacks operating on reserve.

“We are glad that the RCMP has demonstrated a willingness to take strong action on reserves to shut down illegal trafficking operations,” said NCACT spokesperson Gary Grant. “However, as important as it is to target drug trafficking, it is also important to take similar action against the illegal tobacco manufacturing facilities and smoke shacks that operate there. In fact, the two are very often tied together.”

There is a strong connection between drug trafficking and the manufacturing and sale of contraband cigarettes. Tobacco sold illegally is the cash cow of organized crime and finances the activities – including drug, gun, and human trafficking – of more than 175 organized criminal gangs. In Canada, there are more than 50 illegal cigarette manufacturing facilities and more than 300 smoke shacks operating outside of any government regulation.

“It’s bad enough that criminals are allowed to profit by way of this illegal distribution system,” said Grant. “But illegal cigarettes work directly against larger tobacco control efforts. They are a key source of youth smoking, and the high use of illegal tobacco by high school students was recently identified as a factor in keeping teen smoking rates from falling.”

“All we are asking is that government enforce its existing laws,” concluded Grant. “Only by targeting the supply of illegal cigarettes will we see a meaningful reduction to Canada’s contraband tobacco problem.”

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About NCACT

The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco is a Canadian advocacy group formed with the participation of businesses, organizations and individuals concerned about the growing danger of contraband cigarettes.  NCACT members share the goals of working together to educate people and urge government to take quick action to stop this growing threat.

The members of the NCACT include: Canadian Convenience Stores Association (CCSA), Retail Council of Canada, Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers Council, National Convenience Stores Distributors Association (NACDA), Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Frontier Duty Free Association, Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers, Fédération des Chambres de Commerce du Québec (FCCQ), Conseil du Patronat du Québec (CPQ), l’Association des marchands dépanneurs et épiciers du Québec (AMDEQ), Toronto Crime Stoppers, National Citizen’s coalition, and The Customs & Immigration Union (CIU).

For more information, contact:

Michael Powell

(p) 613-566-5961

(m) 613-797-7313

(e) mike@impactcanada.com

Media Releases

Province must tackle suppliers of illegal cigarettes

TORONTO- (June 1, 2011) Today, the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT) commented on the Ontario Government’s passage of Bill 186, The Supporting Smoke-Free Ontario by Reducing Contraband Tobacco Act. In passing this legislation, NCACT believes that Ontario has taken a first step towards combating the enormous problem of contraband tobacco, but much more action is needed.

“This illegal distribution system funnels low cost contraband cigarettes directly to kids in the schoolyard and in their neighbourhoods – and their effect is huge. According to a study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 43% of Ontario’s high school students that smoke use illegal cigarettes, which has been a factor in keeping youth smoking rates from falling,” stated Coalition spokesperson Gary Grant.

The impact of the illegal tobacco market extends beyond youths. These illegal cigarettes jeopardize the livelihoods of countless law-abiding small businesses that rely on tobacco sales to draw traffic to their stores and earn their living. Contraband tobacco robs the Ontario government half a billion dollars a year in tax revenue so any enforcement action is a step in the right direction. Tobacco sold illegally is the cash cow of organized crime and finances the activities, including guns, drugs, and human smuggling, of more than 175 organized criminal gangs.

“This legislation will begin to give law enforcement officials the legal tools that they need to crack down on contraband cigarettes,” concluded Grant. “However, significantly more progress on increasing penalties and enforcement is required and the real test remains tackling the source of the problem: supply. Ontario must coordinate with the federal government to address criminal manufacturing sites and illegal smoke shacks. This is where the roots of the problem rest, and there will be no lasting solution until they are shut down.”

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About NCACT

The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco is a Canadian advocacy group formed with the participation of businesses, organizations and individuals concerned about the growing danger of contraband cigarettes.  NCACT members share the goals of working together to educate people and urge government to take quick action to stop this growing threat.

The members of the NCACT include: Canadian Convenience Stores Association (CCSA), Retail Council of Canada, Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers Council, National Convenience Stores Distributors Association (NACDA), Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Frontier Duty Free Association, Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers, Fédération des Chambres de Commerce du Québec (FCCQ), Conseil du Patronat du Québec (CPQ), l’Association des marchands dépanneurs et épiciers du Québec (AMDEQ), Toronto Crime Stoppers, National Citizen’s coalition, and The Customs & Immigration Union (CIU).

For more information, contact:

Michael Powell

(e) mike@impactcanada.com

Media Releases

Coalition highlights role of illegal cigarettes in youth smoking and in financing criminal activities

OTTAWA- (May 30^th, 2011) Tuesday, May 31st is World No Tobacco Day, and to mark the occasion the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT) called on government to take greater action against the sale of illegal cigarettes, which continues to undermine governments’ existing tobacco strategies.

“Illegal cigarettes make a mockery of Canada’s tobacco control efforts,” said NCACT spokesperson Gary Grant. “A carton of contraband cigarettes can cost $70 less than legal tobacco, and sellers of illegal tobacco don’t check for ID and are more than happy to sell to kids.”

This availability has made contraband cigarettes especially popular amongst youth. A recent study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) found that 43% of cigarettes smoked by teen smokers in Ontario were contraband. CAMH finds that this is one of the main reasons why youth smoking rates have remained relatively high, despite an overall decline in adult tobacco use.

“It’s bad enough that contraband tobacco remains in heavy use amongst kids, but equally concerning is that its profits are used as a cash cow to finance the activities of illegal gangs,” said Grant. “At last count by the RCMP, there were 175 gangs using the sale of illegal cigarettes to finance their other illegal activities involving drugs, guns, and human trafficking.”

In 2008, the federal government committed to a contraband tobacco enforcement strategy, and to date there has been woefully little progress. There are more illegal manufacturing sites and more regulation-ignoring smoke shacks today than there were three years ago. Recent commitments from the Province of Ontario and in the Federal Conservative election platform are steps in the right direction, but must be followed by concrete action, particularly in targeting illegal manufacturing sites.

“The criminal networks that operate the trade have had three years to become more entrenched, and over three years it has become normal to purchase cigarettes from criminals operating in a drug dealer system,” said Grant. “It doesn’t need to be this way. Working together, we can put a real dent in the illicit cigarette trade.”

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About NCACT

The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco is a Canadian advocacy group formed with the participation of businesses, organizations and individuals concerned about the growing danger of contraband cigarettes.  NCACT members share the goals of working together to educate people and urge government to take quick action to stop this growing threat.

The members of the NCACT include: Canadian Convenience Stores Association (CCSA), Retail Council of Canada, Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers Council, National Convenience Stores Distributors Association (NACDA), Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Frontier Duty Free Association, Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers, Fédération des Chambres de Commerce du Québec (FCCQ), Conseil du Patronat du Québec (CPQ), l’Association des marchands dépanneurs et épiciers du Québec (AMDEQ), Toronto Crime Stoppers, National Citizen’s coalition, and The Customs & Immigration Union (CIU).

For more information, contact:

Michael Powell

(e) mike@impactcanada.com

Media Releases

Police seize six million cigarettes near Quebec-Ontario border

Mar. 08 2011
ctvmontreal.ca

Police have seized six million contraband cigarettes in a major bust in St-Anicet, Que. near the Ontario border.

The shipment was found in the 45-foot trailer when the police officers intercepted the smugglers.

RCMP in Valleyfield and the Surete du Quebec made the bust March 3, after receiving a tip concerning illegal activities related to cigarette smuggling.

They seized 600 cases of illegal cigarettes, a semi-trailer, a trailer and a vehicle used to transport tobacco products.

The total value is estimated at $825,000.

The cigarettes were packed in 30,000 Ziploc-type bags.

Two individuals were arrested and could face charges.

http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110308/mtl_contraband_110308/20110308/?hub=MontrealHome

Uncategorized