More Than 7 Million Dollars of Contraband Cigarettes Seized From Overturned Tractor Trailer

Whitbourne N.L. - More than 7 million contraband cigarettes were seized by Whitbourne RCMP in response to an overturned tractor trailer that occurred earlier this week on Route 202.

Following extensive efforts to retrieve the contraband tobacco that was located after RCMP executed a search warrant on the truck and trailer, officers were able to determine the quantity of contraband tobacco to contain more than 7,423,000 cigarettes. Additionally, a case of pre-rolled illicit cannabis was located and seized.

This quantity of contraband tobacco represents a loss of more than $2.4 million that could have been used to help support many provincial government services throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

The investigation is continuing. A 53-year-old Ontario man faces charges under the Excise Act 2001, and is under investigation for charges under the Revenue and Administration Act and Cannabis Act.