Record cigarette bust caps busy June for Alberta tobacco enforcement

bwagner@medicinehatnews.com Alberta’s liquor and gaming regulator has made the largest contraband tobacco seizure in its history. The record bust was one of several across the province in June. Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis, or AGLC, shared the results Thursday in a news release. The seizures happened in Edmonton, Calgary and neighbouring towns. Between June 18-23, The post Record cigarette bust caps busy June for Alberta tobacco enforcement appeared first on Medicine Hat News .

PHOTO COURTESY Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis seized nearly 158,000 cartons of cigarettes between June 18-23 during a record bust in Edmonton, Calgary and neighbouring towns. bwagner@medicinehatnews.com Alberta’s liquor and gaming regulator has made the largest contraband tobacco seizure in its history.

The record bust was one of several across the province in June. Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis, or AGLC, shared the results Thursday in a news release. The seizures happened in Edmonton, Calgary and neighbouring towns.

Between June 18-23, the agency’s Tobacco Enforcement Unit North searched a commercial property in northwest Edmonton. Officers had help from the Edmonton Police Service, they seized nearly 158,000 cartons of cigarettes. That works out to more than 31.6 million cigarettes.

The tobacco had a retail value of more than $29 million. The province missed out on $9.4 million in taxes. AGLC says the haul is it’s largest ever.

Other June busts added to the total. On June 17, the unit teamed up with Morinville and Westlock RCMP to close a month long case. Officers searched a home, a retail store and storage lockers.

They found more than 4,700 cartons of cigarettes worth nearly $859,000. They also seized loaded firearms and $212,000 in cash. Also on June 17, the units southern team searched a convenience store and a home in northeast Calgary.

They took 75 cartons of cigarettes and $79,000 in Canadian and U.S. cash. On June 5, the same team searched another Calgary home. They seized about 900 cartons and $181,000 in cash.

AGLC says criminal charges are pending in every case. For the first half of the year, the unit and its partners has led more than 39 investigations in Alberta. Together they seized more than 225,000 cartons, or roughly 45 million cigarettes.

The retail value topped $41 million, with $13.5 million lost in provincial taxes. “The investigations and seizures again demonstrate the strong commitment AGLC and our law enforcement partners have in combating illegal tobacco,” said Kandice Machado, AGLC’s president and CEO. “These results show our enforcement efforts are working,” said Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction.

“Every seizure is another step toward disrupting criminal networks that profit from contraband tobacco.” Police say the illegal trade is linked to other crime as well. “The RCMP continues to investigate illegal unstamped tobacco sales.

Which have been proven to play a role in funding other criminal activities, such as purchasing illegal firearms and drugs,” said Staff Sergeant James Morton of the Alberta RCMP’s Eastern District. The same effort has reached southern Alberta before. Last September, Brooks RCMP and AGLC’s southern unit seized more than 1,600 cartons from a home in Brooks.

Two people were charged with seven offences in that case. Anyone who suspects illegal tobacco activity can call AGLC’s Tobacco Enforcement Unit at 1-800-577-2522.