As a result of a recent traffic stop near Brandon, the Manitoba RCMP Roving Traffic Unit seized 3.5 million contraband cigarettes.
On May 3, 2020, at approximately 11:20am, officers with the Manitoba RCMP Roving Traffic Unit conducted a traffic stop on a westbound vehicle at a location on Highway 1, approximately two kilometres east of Brandon. Following a discussion with the driver of the vehicle, an inspection of the load uncovered 350 cases of illegal tobacco, containing 3,500,000 cigarettes.
RCMP report that a 36-year-old male driver, from Calgary, was arrested and taken into custody.
Police say that the driver was later released on court imposed conditions for court and is facing charges under the Criminal Code of Canada for trafficking contraband tobacco, the Tax Administration and Miscellaneous Taxes Act (TAMTA) and the Excise Act, 2001. If convicted, the driver could face a mandatory triple tax penalty of over $3,000,000 under the TAMTA.
“We believe that this is one of the largest seizures of illegal tobacco from a traffic stop in Canada,” said Staff Sergeant Kyle McFadyen of the Manitoba RCMP’s Traffic Services. “It really speaks to the importance of the Manitoba RCMP’s Roving Traffic Unit. This unit is comprised of officers with specialized training who work to identify potential criminals travelling on our roadways. The officers do this work as they conduct Highway Traffic Act enforcement.”
