Manitoba Finance investigators seized 150,000 contraband cigarettes from a vehicle and a self-storage unit in Winnipeg on Thursday.
The cigarettes were contained in unmarked plastic bags, each holding 200 cigarettes, officials with the province said.
A Winnipeg man was arrested and released on charges under the Manitoba Tobacco Tax Act and the Excise Act.
The provincial taxes on the amount of cigarettes seized would have amounted to $30,750 if they were legally sold, officials said.
The accused could be facing a fine of $5,000, imprisonment of up to three months, or both. A tax penalty of $92,250 could also be assessed, officials said.
It was the second seizure of illegal cigarettes in Manitoba this month. On Feb. 1, investigators made a separate seizure of 240,000 cigarettes.
Officials are asking anyone with information on contraband tobacco to contact their local police department, the Manitoba Finance Special Investigations Unit at (204) 945-1137 or Manitoba Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
