169 Marijuana Plants Seized

Saint-Anicet, Québec – Last week, an operation by the St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment – Valleyfield Office and the Integrated Border Enforcement Team in Valleyfield, Quebec, led to the execution of a search warrant and the arrest of a 50-year-old man. The man was later charged with possession of a tobacco product not properly stamped, possession of marihuana for the purpose of trafficking and production of cannabis.

During the night of February 28, 2008, the police entered a property in Saint-Anicet, near Valleyfield, Quebec, and seized 6,500 kilograms of bulk fine cut tobacco not properly stamped that was stored in garbage bags and 169 marijuana plants. Were also seized a black Continental Cargo trailer in which the tobacco was found and two unregistered firearms. Charges will be filed later in relation to the storage and possession of these firearms. The owner of the premises, Normand Trépanier, was arrested and charged under section 32(1) of the Excise Act 2001 and sections 7(1) and 5(3) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. He appeared in court in Valleyfield on February 29, 2008 and was released on a bail of $1,000 and under certain conditions. He will appear again in court at a later date. The investigation continues.

There are many layers of criminality involved in the illegal tobacco trade. While the RCMP interdicts contraband at various levels, our focus is on targeting the heads of criminal organizations, which often use the profits from the contraband tobacco trade to finance other illegal activities