From: newswire.ca
CORNWALL, ON, Jan. 15, 2016 /CNW/ – From August to December, 2015 the Cornwall Regional Task Force (CRTF) members arrested 23 individuals and seized the following items:
13 pickup trucks, 5 boats, 5 boat outboard motors, 40.5 cases of cigarettes, 1 boat trailer and 7,693 kilograms of fine cut tobacco.
On August 18, 2015, members of the CRTF ground and marine units along with Sûreté du Québec (SQ) were conducting surveillance near the Ontario and Quebec border. A vessel was spotted leaving the south shore of Quebec and landing in the area of Baie de Somerville. The two occupants of the vessel were observed offloading large garbage bags onto the shoreline and were arrested under the Excise Act, 2001 by the marine unit. The land units intercepted four vehicles on route to the contraband delivery site and arrested the drivers. Officers seized the 20′ fiberglass boat, along with the 225 HP outboard motor, a 2008 Mazda 3, a 2002 Pontiac Sunfire, a 2006 Mazda 3, a 2004 BMW and 50 garbage bags of fine cut tobacco totaling 905 kilograms. The investigation is continuing and charges are pending for all six individuals.
On September 16, 2015, members of the CRTF assisted by the SQ Contraband Tobacco Initiative Team, observed a boat that was tracked to the Saint-Anicet, QC area. Several garbage bags were unloaded from the boat to two waiting vans in an area west of 10th Avenue. The two (2) vans leaving the location were subsequently stopped by police. The first van was driven by John PALANGIO, 59 years old of Beauharnois, Quebec. The second van was driven by a 32 year old male from Beauharnois, Quebec. Both males were arrested under the Excise Act, 2001 and were released. PALANGIO has since answered to these charges. Charges are pending for the 32 year old male. Police seized a total of 1,138 kilograms of fine cut tobacco.
