Canada Border Services Agency officers seized loose leaf tobacco valued at $3.77 million in two separate busts at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor.
“I am proud of these seizures by CBSA officers,” says Rick Comerford, regional director general for the Southern Ontario Region. “Since late July, the Southern Ontario Region has made several tobacco seizures with a combined value of $4.7 million. The proceeds of illegal tobacco sales fuel organized crime and undermine the safety of our communities. “
In the first incident, a commercial driver entered Canada with a shipment declared as frozen apple slices on Aug. 14. The driver was referred for a secondary inspection, where CBSA officers say the shipment actually contained 116 boxes filled with 15,497 kg of loose leaf tobacco with a street value of $1.9 million.
The driver, an Ontario resident, was arrested and charged and is scheduled to appear in court in October. The investigation is ongoing.
The second seizure took place on Sept. 2. Officials say a commercial driver entered Canada with a shipment declared as rubber mulch.
During a secondary inspection, the border officers say the majority of this shipment was found to actually contain 14,505 kg of loose tobacco worth about $1.8 million.
The Quebec driver was arrested and charged and is scheduled to appear in court in November.
Since January 2013, CBSA officers in the Southern Ontario Region have seized tobacco worth over $8.3 million.
