Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service Stop Three Vehicles
leads to the seizure of 360,000 Cigarettes, 36,000 Mini Cigars and 33 Litres of Vodka by the Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment
Akwesasne, Ontario - On March 18, 2008, an officer from the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service observed suspicious activity at a residence located on Third Street in St-Regis, Quebec. The officer then observed two males flee the scene on skidoos across the St. Lawrence River towards Cornwall Island in Akwesasne, Ontario. The officer then spoke to the lone subject located at the scene and checked the vehicle at the residence. He found that it contained twenty two 1.5 litre bottles of Fleischmann’s Royal Vodka that was manufactured in the United States. The value of this vodka is $825. An officer from the Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment who works on the Joint Investigative Team with officers from the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service attended the scene and seized the vodka along with the receipt that showed the vodka was purchased in the United States. A 41-year-old female resident of Recreation Road in Akwesasne, Ontario and known to police was questioned. The vehicle that contained the vodka was a 1999 Toyota RAV 4 registered to a 60 year old female resident of Revere Road in Dewitt, New York. This investigation under the Excise Act 2001 continues and no charges have been filed.
On March 25, 2008, at 9:00 a.m. an officer from the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service observed the driver of a 2001 Chevrolet Impala exit the vehicle and left it stationary and with the motor functioning at the Peace Tree Mall in Akwesasne, Ontario. The officer observed the driver entering the mall and never returned to the vehicle. Officers from the Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment- Cornwall Office attended the scene and observed cardboard boxes of cigarettes and cigars inside the vehicle. The RCMP seized 550 re-sealable bags of cigarettes, 60 cartons containing 200 Marlboro brand mini cigars, 30 cartons containing 200 Prime Time Vanilla Flavored mini cigars, 30 cartons containing 200 Prime Time Raspberry Flavored mini cigars, 30 cartons containing 200 Prime Time Strawberry Flavored mini cigars and 30 cartons containing 200 Prime Time Wildberry Flavored mini cigars that were manufactured in the United States. This represents 110,000 cigarettes worth $12,100 and 36,000 mini cigars worth $4,491 that were not properly packaged or stamped and were destined to be sold illegally. The driver was not located and the investigation continues. The vehicle, registered to a 36-year-old male resident of Kahnawake, Quebec and valued at $5,775, was also seized by the RCMP.
Finally, on March 25, 2008 at 10:30 a.m., intelligence officers from the Canada Border Services Agency working with officers from the Central St. Lawrence Valley RCMP Detachment- Cornwall Office observed the driver of a 2004 Ford F150 pick-up truck acting suspiciously while travelling on Cornwall Island in Akwesasne, Ontario. An officer from the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service also observed the driver travel in the opposite direction to avoid police and the officer located the truck abandoned at the end of James Lane in Akwesasne, Ontario. The officer approached the truck and observed card board boxes of cigarettes behind the driver’s seat.
The RCMP attended the scene and seized 1,250 re-sealable bags of cigarettes that were manufactured in the United States. This represents 250,000 cigarettes valued at $27,500. The driver was not located and the investigation continues. The truck, registered to a 31-year-old female resident of Huron Street in Williamstown, Ontario and valued at $14,300, was also seized by the RCMP.
Law enforcement agencies continue to share resources and work together to ensure our communities remain safe from suspicious activities. Public safety remains our highest priority.
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