CORNWALL, Ontario – Police have nabbed two individuals and a massive haul of contraband tobacco after spotting snowmobiles headed across the St. Lawrence River.
Police seized more than two and a half tonnes of contraband tobacco that was transported over the frozen river via snowmobiles and sleds earlier this month.
Officers saw five machines headed into Canada near Fraser Point, Que., east of Cornwall.
Individuals were seen loading a nearby cube van with the tobacco. Officers were unable to stop the people aboard the snowmobiles, but did arrest two men in the cube van a short time after the exchange took place.
Police have not released any names, but said possession charges are pending against one man, 23, of Valleyfield, Que. and another man, 32, of Coteaux, Que.
The 2005 White GMG Savana cube van was also seized.
If the men are found guilty each individual is facing a minimum fine of $696,280 and/or imprisonments.
“I am proud of the CRTF members who continue to demonstrate their commitment to Canadians at securing our border,” said Inspector Steve Ethier, Officer in charge of the Cornwall Regional Task Force. “Together with you, the public, and our partners we can stop organized crime in their quest of establishing themselves in our area.”
The CRTF is a joint forces partnership that includes the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ontario Provincial Police, Canada Border Services Agency, and the Ontario Ministry of Finance.
