Editor’s Note: The 30,000 kg of tobacco seized, over 66,000 pounds, is enough tobacco for about 30,000,000 cigarettes.
From: Truck News
Truckers charged with tobacco smuggling
SHERBROOKE and GRANBY, Que. — Two drivers and one trucking company are facing charges for smuggling nearly 30,000 kg of tobacco across the US-Canada border in two separate incidents.
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) made the first seizure in late September when Eric Landry, a driver based in Sainte-Martine, Que., was crossing at Stanstead Highway 55. According to a CBSA report, while inspecting the trailer, border services officers “discovered that it was full of boxes emitting a strong tobacco smell,” resulting in officers impounding 14,775 kg of loose tobacco in 132 boxes.
CBSA says, “Not declaring this tobacco means that an amount of more than $1.6 million in federal duties and taxes was attempted to be evaded.”
Yesterday, Landry appeared in court in Sherbrooke on charges under the Customs Act of making false or deceptive statements to a border services officer, and attempting to smuggle into Canada goods that are subject to duties or for which importation is prohibited, controlled or regulated.
WOW! That’s a lot of money.