From: Ottawa Citizen
By Meghan Hurley
OTTAWA — Sûreté du Québec have dismantled a cigarette smuggling operation in Quebec and Ontario after a months-long investigation.
Sûreté du Québec, with the help of police in Gatineau, Montreal and MRC des Collines de l’Outaouais, conducted 14 raids on Thursday morning.
Two men believed to be the ring leaders of the operation were arrested early Thursday morning, while police were questioning 16 others.
The investigation began in April after police received information from the public.
Police allege cigarettes were bought from a reserve in Quebec and sold elsewhere in the province and in Ontario.
More than 80 officers carried out raids at several homes and businesses Thursday morning, including a warehouse in Gatineau where the cigarettes were stored.
Daniel Landreville, 38, and Guy Guèvremont, 47, face several charges, including drug possession and charges under Quebec’s Tobacco Act.
Police expect more charges to be laid.
