Big tobacco bust on Hwy 17

OPP NEWS RELEASE

************************* Police seize truck load of contraband cigarettes

EAST FERRIS TOWN, ON – North Bay OPP seized over 300 boxes of contraband cigarettes yesterday as a result of a traffic stop on Highway 17 in East Ferris Township.

At approximately 9:20 p.m., an OPP officer was conducting traffic enforcement on Highway 17 when he stopped a commercial motor vehicle (shown).

Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the truck contained over 300 cardboard boxes of contraband cigarettes (2’x2’x1’), containing 50 cartons of cigarettes each with an estimated value of $450,000.

Click here to view police evidence photo

As well, they seized $4,530 in currency.

Investigation will be ongoing with Ministry of Revenue.

Charged is Carol Gauthier, 38 years old, of Jonquiere, Quebec with possession of unmarked cigarettes.

Gauthier is to appear at the North Bay Court House on Plouffe Street in North Bay on June 12, 2008.

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