Almost 50,000 illegal cigarettes seized in ByWard Market in a few days

Police have yet again seized a significant amount of illegal cigarettes days after busting the same group for the same crime.

According to a press release, officers were conducting enforcement in the ByWard Market on Sept. 3 with the Central Neighbourhood Resource Team. Officials saw a group of people in the area of Dalhousie and George streets, and when they approached the group, some officers recognized the individuals as those involved in a previous bust.

The team said they seized 22,680 illegal cigarettes from the group. This comes after days earlier, on Aug. 30, police seized 26,740 cigarettes.

 Under the Tobacco Tax Act (unless otherwise authorized), it is illegal to buy, possess, sell or distribute any amount of untaxed cigarettes or other tobacco products. A follow-up investigation is being conducted by the Ministry of Finance, police said in the release.

The seizure is part of the force’s ongoing efforts to eliminate illegal tobacco trade, which the provincial government says undermines efforts to reduce smoking rates and protect children, among other things.