BC RCMP Announce Seizure of Millions of Dollars Worth of Contraband Cigarettes

RCMP Reveals Seizure of Millions of Dollars in Contraband Cigarettes

March 8, 2024 TruthUSA

Police in British Columbia say they’ve seized over 27 tonnes of contraband cigarettes valued at more than $24 million in two investigations conducted over the past year.

Assistant RCMP Commissioner David Teboul highlighted the collaboration with tax fraud investigators from the B.C. Ministry of Finance in these investigations, describing the confiscation of 133,000 cartons of cigarettes as a significant setback for various organized crime groups.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth emphasized that the recent raids on Feb. 28 in Mission and Maple Ridge, resulting in 67,500 cartons seized, marked the largest single confiscation of contraband cigarettes in the province.

Mr. Farnworth noted that the seizure not only dealt a blow to gangs and organized crime but also benefited small retailers like corner stores that rely on legal tobacco sales.

Mounties revealed that last week, they executed four search warrants in Maple Ridge and Mission where the illicit cigarettes were kept, leading to two arrests and the seizure of 70 pounds of silver and $100,000 in cash.

RCMP also mentioned that prior seizures in the spring and summer yielded over 66,000 cartons.