Record haul of illegal tobacco seized in Alberta
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It's the largest seizure of illegal tobacco in Alberta's history.
About 75,000 cartons of cigarettes were seized on the Montana First Nation in Hobbema on Wednesday, January 5th. The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission is leading the investigation into the illegal cigarettes, believed to be worth $3 million in lost tax revenue to the province.
The cigarettes were not properly marked for sale in Alberta, a violation of the provincial Tobacco Tax Act.
The RCMP says the contraband tobacco was found after a break in was reported and a seach warrant was executed on a Quonset.
A meeting was called by the Montana First Nation on Thursday afternoon to address the tobacco seizure.
Prior to this, the largest number of illegal cigarettes seized in Alberta was in Red Deer, when 5,300 cartons were seized in November of 2010.
The investigation continues.
