Whitchurch-Stouffville
September 06, 2008 11:59 PM
Joe Fantauzzi
Three Markham men and a Whitchurch-Stouffville resident were arrested in connection with the seizure of more than $2 million worth of counterfeit cigarettes last month, the RCMP said Wednesday.
Acting on information received from the Canada Border Services Agency, RCMP officers found four men with illegal smokes in Aurora.
Officers arrived as a van was being unloaded in Aurora, said Sgt. Andre Bagi of the RCMP’s Toronto East detachment, customs and excise section.
A second van, which had not been unloaded, was found in Markham, he said.
In all, 43,950 cartons of fake Players and du Maurier cigarettes, worth an estimated $2.241 million, were seized, police said. The smokes, which authorities believe originated in China, were shipped in a freight container to Vancouver and made their way to York Region, Sgt. Bagi said.
The Mounties believe the cigarettes were destined for the Toronto market. If they reached market, it would have meant the loss of millions of dollars worth of duties and taxes by the federal and provincial governments, according to the Mounties.
“The distribution of contraband tobacco products in Canada has serious consequences for the Canadian taxpayers,” RCMP Staff Sgt. John Morton said in a statement.
“It will result with loss of government revenue which will subsequently affect the delivery of some services including health care and educational programs. It also exposes the public to a higher health risk and makes it easier for young Canadians to obtain tobacco products through illicit markets.”
Wai Sun Yeung, 44, Yi Huang, 31, and Kai Fa Choi, 40, all of Markham and Gou Ping Wu, 45, of Stouffville are charged with unlawful possession of tobacco products contrary to the Excise Act and charged under the Customs Act.
They are scheduled to appear in the Newmarket courts Oct. 10.