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Cornwall Community Police Service Highway Traffic Act Investigation leads to seizure of 200,000 Contraband Cigarettes by the Cornwall RCMP Detachment

CORNWALL, ON, June 13 - On June 3rd, 2008, at 11:42 p.m., an officer from the Cornwall Community Police Service observed a 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo fail to stop at an intersection in Cornwall, Ontario and the driver continue to travel at a high rate of speed. The officer followed the vehicle when he observed it stop at a residence on Bedford Street in Cornwall. He then observed the driver enter an apartment complex. The officer approached the vehicle and noticed a strong odour of tobacco and could observe re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes inside the vehicle. Officers searched for the male driver but could not locate him. Officers from the Cornwall RCMP detachment attended the scene and seized 1,000 re-sealable bags of contraband cigarettes. This represents 200,000 cigarettes worth $22,000 which are believed to have been manufactured in the United States and smuggled into Canada. The RCMP also seized the vehicle valued at $3,700. The investigation continues.

"Contraband tobacco is cheap and easily accessible to youth" states Sgt. Michael Harvey of the RCMP. "The illicit product is reaching all corners of Canada and organized crime is using that money to fund additional criminal enterprise, such as drug trafficking"