AMPS stop leads to seizure of cigarettes, tobacco

Akwesasne, Ontario - On May 23rd, 2008, at 7:00 p.m., an officer from the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service stopped a 2001 Pontiac on Island Road East in Akwesasne, Ontario as part of an investigation under authority of the Indian Act. The officer observed cardboard boxes of cigarettes and smelled a strong odour of tobacco coming from the vehicle. Officers from the Cornwall RCMP detachment were contacted and attended the scene. The RCMP officers seized 850 re-sealable bags of cigarettes, which represents 170,000 cigarettes worth $18,700.

The driver, a 39 year old male resident of Leitch Drive in Cornwall, Ontario was arrested and will be charged by the RCMP for possession of a tobacco product not properly stamped according to the Excise Act 2001. He was released and will appear at the Cornwall court on June 30th, 2008. The Akwesasne Mohawk Police officer also issued the driver a ticket for operating a motor vehicle without insurance under authority of the Highway Traffic Act and he will also be charged for trespassing on an Indian Reserve under authority of the Indian Act. The vehicle, valued at $3,000, was also seized by the RCMP.

On May 24th, 2008, at 9:52 p.m., an officer from the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service located a 1998 Dodge pick-up truck and a 2003 Ford pick-up truck and a Roadmaster utility trailer beside a boat launch area of the Travelling College in Akwesasne, Ontario. The officer determined there was tobacco in all three vehicles and contacted officers from the Cornwall RCMP detachment to attend the scene. The RCMP officers seized 1,250 re-sealable bags of Discount brand full flavour cigarettes and 3,000 clear re-sealable bags of cigarettes which represent 850,000 cigarettes valued at $93,500. The two pick-up trucks, valued at $24,225, were also seized by the RCMP. The trailer was too damaged to seize. No one was located and the investigation continues.

Finally, on May 25th, 2008, at 9:20 p.m., officers from the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service stopped a 1999 Chevrolet Venture van on the North span of the Seaway International Bridge in Akwesasne, Ontario following an investigation under authority of the Highway Traffic Act. The officer observed garbage bags of tobacco in the rear seat of the van. Officers from the Cornwall RCMP detachment were contacted and attended the scene. The RCMP officers seized 41 garbage bags containing 519 kilograms of fine cut tobacco valued at $46,710.

The driver, a 47 year old male resident of Marlborough Street in Cornwall, Ontario was arrested and will be charged by the RCMP for possession of a tobacco product not properly stamped according to the Excise Act 2001. He was released and will appear at the Cornwall court on June 30th, 2008. The Akwesasne Mohawk Police officer also issued Highway Traffic Act offence tickets to the driver for driving a motor vehicle with no licence, plate not authorized for a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle without insurance, driving a motor vehicle with no currently validated permit and driving a motor vehicle failing to display two licence plates. The van, valued at $3,375, was also seized by the RCMP.

“All of the tobacco seized was manufactured in the United States” states Sgt. Michael Harvey of the RCMP. “Many of these drivers are not obeying the Highway Traffic Act regulations and we are concerned about the safety of the motoring public”.