Two charged for unmarked smokes, trafficking

OPP NEWS RELEASE

************************* Marijuana, cigarettes seized

WHITE RIVER, ON - On May 7, 2010, at approximately 11:14 p.m., Superior East OPP in White River had occasion to stop a westbound 2009 Pontiac, black in colour bearing British Columbia plates, on Highway 17 20 kilometres south of White River for a traffic violation.

There were two males in the vehicle.

While speaking to the occupants, officers detected a smell of marijuana in the vehicle.

Further investigation revealed that the vehicle contained a large quantity of what appeared to be marijuana along with 500 cartons of contraband cigarettes.

The two occupants of the vehicle were arrested at this time.

Luc Jacques St. Denis, age 46, of Falkland, B.C. and Marcel Deschamps, age 40, of Genelle, B.C. both stand charged with:

- Trafficking Schedule II: cannabis marijuana

- Possession of Schedule II cannabis marijuana over 30 gms

- Possession of unmarked cigarettes under Tobacco and Tax Act.

Estimated street value of the 577 gms of marijuana is approximately $5,700, while the value of the cigarettes according to Ministry of Revenue is in access of $26,000.

The vehicle has been seized and both accused, released on a promise to appear, will attend Wawa criminal court on August 9, 2010, to answer to the charges.

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