A significant amount of illegal tobacco has been taken off the streets following a vehicle check by members of the Halifax District RCMP along with Service Nova Scotia’s Compliance and Special Investigations Unit.

On Sunday, Nov. 19, one arrest was made in Bedford, along with the seizure of a vehicle and 200,000 contraband cigarettes. The estimated provincial tax value of the cigarettes is more than $55,000 and the federal tax value is $42,000.

Charges are pending under the Nova Scotia Revenue Act, Excise Act 2001 and the Criminal Code. A 54-year-old man from Ottawa is scheduled to appear in Dartmouth court on Jan. 31.

Service Nova Scotia, through the audit and enforcement section of its Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco Branch, is responsible for reducing illegal tobacco in Nova Scotia by working with its law enforcement partners, and through education and enforcement.

Since 2006-07, the amount of illegal tobacco present in the province has decreased from 30 per cent of all tobacco consumed to less than 10 per cent.

Anyone with information about the sale and manufacturing of illegal tobacco is asked to contact their local police or Crime Stoppers.

Calls to Crime Stoppers are not taped or traced. If police make an arrest and lay charges based on a tip, callers qualify for a cash reward of up to $2,000.

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Source: Media Release