Manitoba seizes more than 500K illegal cigarettes
The Manitoba government seized more than 500,000 contraband cigarettes from multiple Winnipeg stores, which represent nearly $163,000 in potential lost revenue to the province.
In a Thursday news release, the province announced Manitoba Finance’s compliance and enforcement division’s special investigations unit seized 543,255 illegal cigarettes from three Winnipeg residents, who are the owners of five convenience stores.
The province notes that two of these people have previous convictions for similar offences, while the third person has charges before the court.
The accused face a number of charges under the Tobacco Tax Act, the Tax Administration and Miscellaneous Taxes Act, and the Criminal Code.
These charges come following the conclusion of Project Diesel, which was an investigation into multiple Winnipeg stores that the province suspected were selling illegal cigarettes.
An individual facing a first-time offence under the tax acts could be given fines between $1,000 and $10,000; up to six months imprisonment; and the triple tax penalty. Those facing subsequent offences could face fines between $10,000 and $50,000; up to 12 months imprisonment; and a potential quadruple tax penalty. They also face the suspension of their retail tobacco licences.
The province added that the smuggling and sale of contraband cigarettes lead to tax losses for Manitoba residents, and also pose health and fire risks. Illegal cigarettes are unregulated, could contain harmful ingredients, and could also lack self-extinguishing features.
Anyone who has information regarding contraband cigarettes can call their local police department, Manitoba Finance’s special investigations unit, or Crime Stoppers.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.
Here's why Harvey Weinstein's New York rape conviction was tossed and what happens next
Here's what you need to know about why movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction was thrown out and what happens next.
2 teens charged in Halifax homicide: police
Two teenagers have been charged with second-degree murder in connection to an alleged homicide near the Halifax Shopping Centre earlier this week.
12-year-old hippo in Japan raised as a male discovered to be a female
When Gen-chan arrived at a zoo in Japan in 2017, no one questioned whether the then-five-year-old hippopotamus was a boy. Seven years later, zoo staff made a surprising discovery: Gen-chan, now 12, was female.