A 27-year-old man from L’Île-Perrot, Québec faces a steep fine after the RCMP seized over one million unstamped cigarettes in South Glengarry.
Zachary Cordy was arrested when officers stopped a van on Highway 417. In it they found 110 boxes full of cigarettes. He was charged with possession of unstamped tobacco, driving a motor vehicle with cannabis was readily available, driving without a licence, He is to appear in Cornwall court June 18 and July 4 in L’Orignal court.
This arrest occurred as part of the Cornwall Regional Task Force (CRTF) collaboration with the CBSA in their investigation into the people, vehicles and properties used by criminals in the sale of unstamped tobacco contrary to the Excise Act. The maximum fine for selling unstamped cigarettes is close to $500,000.
“Thousands of tonnes of contraband tobacco are smuggled into Canada every year. The proceeds derived from the illegal sales of unstamped tobacco products fund further criminal activity and defraud all levels of government from millions of dollars in tax revenues. Our invaluable law enforcement partnerships with the OPP, CBSA and the Ontario Ministry of Finance allow us to more effectively target the individuals and groups benefitting from these criminal schemes. Together, we are dedicated to safe communities by curbing the flow of illegal goods coming over our borders,” said Inspector Etienne Thauvette, Officer-in-charge, Cornwall Detachment, Central Region Border Integrity, RCMP.
