Police officers from the Sûreté du Québec's Contraband Investigation Service, in collaboration with police officers from the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Est and Beauharnois-Salaberry RCMs, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS), conducted a tobacco smuggling operation in Vaudreuil-Dorion on January 17.

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The investigation began last November by police officers from the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Est MRC, following information received that a business on Valois Street in Vaudreuil-Dorion was involved in smuggling tobacco and vaporizers.

During the operation, police seized more than 1,000 contraband cigarettes and cigarillos, nearly 5,400 electronic cigarettes, more than 11,000 electronic cigarette refills, some 100 boxes of chewing tobacco and a dozen cartons of chicha. Searches were conducted at a residence and a business on Valois Street.

Two individuals could face charges under the Income Tax and Tobacco Act and Tobacco Act. These charges often result in a fine or prison sentence in the event of a repeat offence. 

Coordinated by the Ministère de la Sécurité publique, the ACCES Tabac (Actions Concertées pour Contrer les Économies Actions Contrer les Économies Souterraines) is a government initiative set up in set up in 2001 to counter the illegal tobacco trade. Its aim is to promote the integrity of the Quebec tax system, restore order to the tobacco trade, increase probity, reduce the unfair competition caused by the illegal tobacco trade to legitimate businesses, clean up the industry and fight a crime without a complainant.

The Sûreté du Québec reminds you that any information on tobacco smuggling can be communicated can be communicated at any time, in confidence, to the Central Criminal Information Bureau at at 1 800 659-4264.