OTTAWA: The 222 kilograms of tobacco seized April 6 was the largest seizure of its type on the Prairies in at least five years, the Canadian Border Services Agency says.
A Calgary man has been charged with smuggling after 220 kilograms of tobacco was seized at a Saskatchewan-U.S. border crossing.
It’s the biggest tobacco bust on the Prairies in at least five years, the Canada Border Services Agency says.
CBSA officers seized the tobacco April 6 as the man, 56, was coming into Canada at North Portal, Sask., north of North Dakota.
He was charged June 3 with smuggling, making false statements, failing to report imported goods, and willfully evading the payment of duties on imported goods pursuant to the Customs Act.
He was also charged with unlawful possession under the Excise Act.
Last year, CBSA officers in Saskatchewan made 45 seizures of undeclared tobacco products, the agency says.
Across Canada, the CBSA seized 24,137 cigarette cartons, 134 cigars, and 45,067 kilograms of other tobacco products in 2015.