National

2 Men Charged In Seizure Of 300 Kg Contraband Shisha Tobacco At Edmonton Convenience Store

The Canadian Press, 20 Jan, 2016 11:48 AM

EDMONTON — Two men have been charged in the seizure of more than 300 kilograms of contraband shisha tobacco, contraband cigarettes, and flavoured cigars at a convenience store in Edmonton.

The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission says it found the contraband at Alex's Convenience Store after obtaining a search warrant.

Hiwot Atnafu and Alemayehu (Alex) Girma have been charged with several violations, including fraud over $5,000, trafficking in contraband tobacco as well as charges under the provincial Tobacco Tax Act for possession of more than 1,000 grams of tobacco.

Both are scheduled to appear in Edmonton provincial court on March 16.

The commission says the lost tax revenue on the contraband products is more than $116,000.

Contraband tobacco is any tobacco product that does not comply with federal and provincial laws related to importation, marking, manufacturing, stamping and payment of duties and taxes.

It comes from illegal manufacturers, counterfeits, tax-exempt diversions, and resale of stolen legal tobacco.

The commission says contraband tobacco doesn't have a red (Alberta) or peach/light tan (Canada) stamp bearing the "DUTY PAID CANADA DROIT ACQUITTE" on packages.

All wholesalers and importers of tobacco into Alberta must be licensed to sell or import tobacco for resale.

In addition, all tobacco products must be labelled according to federal and provincial regulations.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Woman Dead Falling From Party Bus In Vancouver

Sgt. Randy Fincham says police received a report around 9:30 Saturday evening that a woman had fallen from a moving party bus at Burrard and West Hastings Street.

Woman Dead Falling From Party Bus In Vancouver

Alberta's Rachel Notley Says Document Shredding Ban Continues At Environment Department

EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says a ban on document shredding will continue in the Environment Department until she is sure no more documents are improperly destroyed.

Alberta's Rachel Notley Says Document Shredding Ban Continues At Environment Department

Firefighting Funds Depleted: Record Number Of Wildfires In National Parks

Wildfires scorched a record amount of Canada's national parks last year — the latest in a number of long, hot summers that have almost entirely depleted Parks Canada's firefighting reserve.

Firefighting Funds Depleted: Record Number Of Wildfires In National Parks

Premier Kathleen Wynne Says Ontario Is Preparing Protocols For Physician-Assisted Death

The top court is holding an oral hearing today on the Trudeau government's request for a six-month extension to deal with the issue.

Premier Kathleen Wynne Says Ontario Is Preparing Protocols For Physician-Assisted Death

Somali-Canadian Woman Fights Revocation Of Security Clearance That Cost Her Airline Job

Ayaan Farah, 31, says Ottawa unfairly revoked her Transportation Security Clearance a year ago, leading to her firing from her full-time job of eight years.

Somali-Canadian Woman Fights Revocation Of Security Clearance That Cost Her Airline Job

Justin Trudeau Makes The Tabloids For His Family Vacation On Small Caribbean Island

The visit to Nevis, a small island that is part of the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, was billed as a private family vacation, but it has become fodder for celebrity gossip website TMZ.