Illegal tobacco ring dismantled

Illegal tobacco ring dismantled, Police say

28 arrests and $7 million in contraband seized; ring linked to Mafia, aboriginal organized crime

Police forces on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border have dealt a major blow to an illegal tobacco ring that they say was linked to the Mafia and aboriginal organized crime. Officials from the Sûreté du Québec, the Canada Border Services Agency, the RCMP and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security were on hand Wednesday as 400 officers fanned out in Montreal and the surrounding regions and began raiding dozens of properties. Among the locations targeted just before dawn were homes in St-Léonard and Valleyfield and a strip club in Dundee, near the border. In all, $7 million worth of contraband was seized and 28 people arrested. Police are still searching for seven people linked to the criminal ring, which allegedly involved close collaboration between the Mafia and aboriginal organized crime. Residents of Kahnawake said it was the first time they’d heard police refer to “aboriginal organized crime” and said the raids will affect many members of their community who depend on the cigarette industry to make an honest living.