On August 14, 2013, Manitoba Finance Taxation Division Special Investigations Unit and the Winnipeg Police Service stopped and detained two men from the RM of Rosser in possession of contraband tobacco products.
Searches of the vehicles and a private garage in Winnipeg revealed 1,564 cartons and six packages (312,950 cigarettes) not marked for sale in Manitoba. With the assistance of the RCMP, subsequent searches of a vehicle and two residences in the RM of Rosser led to the seizure of $31,135 in cash believed to be the proceeds of crime and one loaded firearm. The RCMP investigation continues.
The Winnipeg Police Service advises a 69 year-old man from Winnipeg has been charged with failing to comply with a condition of undertaking and was detained at the Winnipeg Remand Centre.
Both the 69-year-old man and the 67-year-old co-accused face charges of possession of non-Manitoba marked cigarettes under the Manitoba Tobacco Tax Act and the Tax Administration and Miscellaneous Taxes Act. They each face fines of $1,000 to $10,000 and/or up to six months in jail and a triple tax penalty of $272,266.50. Manitoba stood to lose $90,755.50 in tax revenues if this tobacco had reached the black market.
If anyone has information on contraband tobacco, they are urged to contact their local police department, the Manitoba Finance Taxation Division Special Investigations Unit at 204-945-1137, the RCMP Customs and Excise Section at 204-983-5423 in Winnipeg or by email at smuggling_manitoba@rcmp-grc.gc.ca or Manitoba Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477).
