Maidstone RCMP officers were part of a multi-agency check stop near Saskatoon that led to the seizure of 9.3 million illegal cigarettes.
Commercial vehicle fails to stop
Saskatoon RCMP Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan Highway Patrol were operating a check stop at the Langham weigh scale on Highway 16 during the early morning hours of November 14. At about 3 a.m., a commercial vehicle drove through the stop without slowing down.
An SHP officer followed the vehicle, pulled it over a few kilometres west of the scale and escorted it back to the check stop. Officers inspected the trailer and found 24 pallets of unstamped tobacco. The driver was arrested on site and transported to the Saskatoon RCMP detachment with support from RCMP Traffic Services.
More than nine million illegal cigarettes seized
Police seized the commercial vehicle and escorted it to the Seized Property Management Directorate in Regina for secure storage. The Yorkton RCMP Saskatchewan Trafficking and Response Team searched the vehicle and confirmed the shipment contained 9.3 million illegal cigarettes.
“Based on previous similar investigations in Saskatchewan, and current tax rates under provincial and federal legislations, the estimated total tax being evaded is over 4.4 million dollars,” Corporal Aaron Gullacher with the Yorkton RCMP STRT said.
Ontario man charged
As a result, 24-year-old Akashdeep Akashdeep of Brampton, Ontario, is charged with possession of unstamped tobacco for the purpose of sale, possession of unstamped tobacco under the Tobacco Tax Act and possession of unstamped tobacco under the Excise Act. He appeared in Saskatoon court on November 17.
Provincial officials praised the cooperative effort.
“Our government values the strong partnerships between the Saskatchewan RCMP, municipal police services and Saskatchewan Highway Patrol,” Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Tim McLeod said. “Collaborative enforcement efforts, like this check stop, play an essential role in promoting road safety and protecting communities across the province.”
“Twenty-three police officers from four agencies operated the check stop,” Superintendent Grant St. Germaine, the officer in charge of Saskatchewan RCMP Traffic Services, said. “Partnerships like these allow us to intercept large quantities of illegal goods and send a strong message to traffickers of illicit goods. Stay off our roads.”
Saskatoon RCMP continue to investigate.
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