Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service vehicle stop leads to RCMP cigarette seizure

AKWESASNE, ON, July 18 - A 34 year old Cornwall, Ontario man is facing charges under the Excise Act 2001 for possession of a tobacco product not properly stamped following a vehicle stop on Island Road in Akwesasne, Ontario. On July 15th at 9:30 p.m. members of the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service observed a 2000 Pontiac van speed carelessly past their marked police vehicles. When they stopped the vehicle they observed several cardboard boxes containing cigarettes covered by a blanket inside the van. Members of the RCMP's Cornwall Detachment attended and seized 200,000 cigarettes worth an estimated $22,000 contained in 1,000 resealable bags. The cigarettes are believed to have been manufactured in the United States. The van, worth an estimated $3,425 was also seized. The driver is scheduled to appear in Cornwall court on September 22nd, 2008, and faces additional charges from the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service for careless driving and failing to surrender his driver's licence.

"There continues to be careless and dangerous driving on our roadways, and that is a concern to us", said Sgt. Michael Harvey of the RCMP's Cornwall Detachment. "Public safety remains the primary focus of all law enforcement agencies."