On March 5, Parkland RCMP plainclothes units executed a search warrant at a residence in north Edmonton, following an investigation into contraband tobacco trafficking. Police received information that contraband cigarettes were being sold in the Parkland area and investigation into the concern revealed that customers were calling a distributed phone number to place orders for illegal tobacco.
The operation was run like a business, with the distributors handing out business cards to potential customers. A search warrant was obtained and officers conducted a search of the Edmonton residence, and several vehicles associated to the operation. Officers seized 202,460 illegal cigarettes and $53,000 in cash as proceeds of crime. The seizure represents more than $100,000 in avoided taxes and a significant loss to local retailers. Four males are facing charges in connection with the investigation.
Two adult male residents of Edmonton are facing charges under the Federal Excise Act.
Two different adult male residents of Edmonton are facing charges under the Criminal Code for trafficking unstamped tobacco and charges under the Federal Excise Act.
“The illicit tobacco trade is often linked to organized crime,” says Sergeant Collin Kuca of the Parkland RCMP. “There is evidence that this operation was netting profits in the hundreds of thousands of dollars a month.”
If you have any information about a crime, please call the Parkland RCMP at 825-220-7267(RCMP). If you want to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.
