CORNWALL, Ontario – The Cornwall Regional Task Force plugged up a major pipeline for contraband and human smuggling across the St. Lawrence Seaway.
Over the last few months, CRTF officers laid charges against three people and seized 1,720 kilograms of fine cut tobacco, two cases of contraband cigarettes, one vehicle, a boat and an outboard motor. The contraband has a street value of $156,849.
The joint forces partnership includes the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ontario Provincial Police, Canada Border Services Agency, Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service, and the Ontario Ministry of Finance.
May 4:
CRTF officers spot what appears to be two people boating with contraband tobacco near the Quebec border. The vessel travels eastbound in the channel and makes it to landfall. The suspects flee the scene. Officers arrive to find 66 garbage bags of fine cut tobacco (869 kilograms, street value: over $78,000). Investigation is ongoing.
May 29:
While conducting surveillance just after midnight, the CRTF – marine unit observed a duck boat-type vessel with three people zipping across the river eastbound, without any navigation lights.
The vessel headed into Lake St-Francis in Quebec, pulled a u-turn and made its way back westbound. When police activated their emergency lights, the suspects started throwing contraband tobacco overboard before speeding off.
The marine unit returned to the drop location in the Penville Bay area and retrieved 20 garbage bags of flavoured fine cut tobacco (260 kilograms, street value: $23,400. The investigation continues.
June 14:
RCMP received a phone tip that contraband tobacco washed up on shore near a boathouse on Montreal Road in Cornwall. CRTF members attended the scene and seized two garbage bags. Each contained 50 Ziploc bags of light cigarettes (street value: $2,200. No suspects have been identified.
June 15:
CRTF members working in the Bainsville area at 2:50 p.m. spotted a red van backed up to a private property on County Road 2. Officers allege the driver was seen loading items from the shoreline into the trunk. After they stopped the vehicle, a search resulted in the seizure of 591 kilograms of fine cut tobacco (street value: $53,249), as well as the 2007 Chevy Uplander that he was driving.
The 28-year-old man from Repentigny, Que., is facing charges under the federal Excise Act, the Ontario Tobacco Tax Act and for breaching his probation. William Carrubba was released from custody to appear in Cornwall court on July 28.
June 29:
Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service (AMPS) responded to a complaint of two suspicious individuals being dropped off by boat in the area of St Regis Quebec. AMPS members arrived on the scene and located United Kingdom’s William Eugene Keenan, 55, and his wife Margaret Ann Keenan, 52. They were turned over to CRTF members and CBSA for further investigation.
Police allege that the couple had crossed the St. Lawrence River to be illegally smuggled to the United States.
Both were charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence in the United States, and the man was further charged with obstruction, as he allegedly provided officers with a false name at the time of arrest. The duo is still in custody pending their bail hearings.
July 2:
CRTF – marine unit members observed a large smuggling-type vessel travelling eastbound in a known hotspot for illegal activity. The vessel had already escaped officers in the past during a previous run. On this occasion, police nabbed the suspect.
The boat and an oversized 300-horsepower Evinrude outboard engine were seized under the federal Customs Act. Charges have not yet been laid as the investigation is continuing.
