Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service Stop a Vehicle which leads to the seizure of 370,000 Cigarettes by the Cornwall RCMP Detachment

On May 6th, 2008, at 10:28 p.m., an officer from the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service stopped a 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche on International Road driving northbound in Akwesasne, Ontario. While following the vehicle, the officer noticed that the rear tail gate was open and could see a large quantity of clear re-sealable bags of cigarettes. Officers from the Cornwall RCMP detachment were contacted and attended the scene. The RCMP officers seized 1,850 re-sealable bags of cigarettes that are believed to be manufactured in the United States. This represents 370,000 cigarettes worth $40,700. Each bag is equivalent to a carton containing 200 cigarettes.

The driver, a 40 year old male resident of Hebert Street in Cornwall, Ontario was arrested and will be charged by the RCMP under Section 32(1) of the Excise Act 2001 for possession of a tobacco product not properly stamped according to the Excise Act 2001, and by the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service for trespassing on an Indian Reserve under authority of the Indian Act. He was released and will appear at the Cornwall court on June 12th, 2008. The truck, valued at $18,200, was also seized by the RCMP.

"Although we cannot speak to the day-to-day enforcement activities of Aboriginal Police Services, we are proud of the cooperation and working relationships established between the RCMP and the many Aboriginal law enforcement services" states Sgt. Michael Harvey of the RCMP.

SOURCE: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

SOURCE: RCMP

Sgt. Michael Harvey, Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment, (613) 937-2831;
Chief of Police Lewis Mitchell, Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service, (613) 575-2340