News
Contraband tobacco continues to be a health, safety, and financial issue in Ontario. The availability of contraband tobacco undermines the government's efforts in reducing smoking rates and the profits generated from contraband tobacco may fuel criminal activity.
Read more about the impact of contraband tobacco in our community:
Global News
Latest Contraband Cigarettes News
NEWSWIRE
Statement - Rothmans, Benson & Hedges welcomes action against contraband tobacco
ASIAN PACIFIC POST
Illegal tobacco trade booming in Canada
CTV NEWS
Mounties seize 27 tonnes of illegal cigarettes in B.C. busts valued at $24M
CTV NEWS
N.B. peace officers seize more than 82K contraband cigarettes
NEWSWIRE
Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. congratulates CFSEU-BC on massive contraband tobacco bust
CTV NEWS
B.C. police seize speedboat, cocaine, $11M in contraband cigarettes
YAHOO FINANCE
Tackle illegal tobacco to reduce crime and smoking rates in Ontario
CTV NEWS
Over $100K of illegal tobacco and drugs seized at Collins Bay Institution in Kingston, Ont.
CTV NEWS
Nearly one million contraband cigarettes seized, 5 arrested in Thetford Mines, Que.
TRUE NORTH
Illicit tobacco trade discussed at Ontario’s latest budget committee
CASTANET
Crime Stoppers fights back against growth of contraband cigarettes
GLOBAL NEWS
Criminal organizations in Canada making ‘billions’ in illegal cigarettes: Kelowna speaker
CBC NEWS
Trafficker got tips from Manitoba Finance official to avoid getting caught with illegal cigarettes: court doc
CTV NEWS
N.S. seized three million contraband cigarettes in last year
CTV NEWS
Seven people arrested after 70,000 contraband cigarettes seized in N.B.
CTV NEWS
More than one million illegal cigarettes seized in New Brunswick so far this year
WEST CENTRAL ONLINE
Truck driver busted with heavy load of illegal tobacco on Trans-Canada Highway
CBC NEWS
Police seize 9.1 million illegal cigarettes from truck on Burlington, Ont. Highway
CTV NEWS
More than 52K contraband cigarettes seized in N.B.
TRUE NORTH
The ‘Whack-a-Mole’ game that is Canada’s illicit tobacco industry
TRUE NORTH
Contraband cigarettes in Canada becoming a billion dollar industry
SOO TODAY
Illegal tobacco sales cost Ontario up to $1.8B in lost taxes: report
IMPERIAL TOBACCO CANADA
British Columbia posts massive tobacco tax deficit due to exploding illegal tobacco market
IMPERIAL TOBACCO CANADA
Warning signs of growing illegal tobacco problem in Saskatchewan
CBC NEWS
Growth in illegal tobacco sales costing 3 provinces $2.47 billion in taxes: retail report
SALTWIRE
Three men arrested after contraband cigarettes and illegal liquor seized in New Brunswick
CTV NEWS NORTHERN ONTARIO
Police say impaired driver in Northern Ont. caught with contraband tobacco
SALTWIRE
More than 400,000 contraband cigarettes seized in New Brunswick
CANADA POLICE REPORT
Saskatoon Police makes substantial tobacco, cash seizure, arrest 59-year-old man
CANADA POLICE REPORT
St. Paul RCMP execute two search warrants for contraband tobacco
VANCOUVER SUN
Vancouver delivery driver found guilty for role in cigarette smuggling ring
SALTWIRE
Over $9,000 in taxable cigarettes seized in Cambellton, N.B.
GLOBAL NEWS
Illegal cigarette trade subject of BC Crimestoppers training conference
CASTANET KELOWNA
Opinion: Contraband tobacco is Canada’s billion dollar problem
VICPD
Investigators seize over half a million dollars in contraband cigarettes and cash
THE DAILY COURIER
Organized crime cashes in on illegal smokes
CANADA POLICE REPORT
Edmonton Police recover large quantity of contraband cigarettes and make arrests
KELOWNA CAPITAL NEWS
Okanagan Crime Stoppers conference discusses connection of illegal tobacco to organized crime
NEWSWIRE
Alberta's independent retailers want a plan to address contraband tobacco from all parties ahead of campaign season
TRUE NORTH CANADA
BONOKOSKI: Getting tough on the contraband tobacco market
SALTWIRE
Contraband tobacco probe links N.S. man to seizure of more than 1 million cigarettes
Montreal Gazette
Trois-Rivières man found guilty of selling contraband tobacco, fined $1.1 million
CBC News
Contraband tobacco taking over up to half of B.C. market, retailers and industry fear
Canada Police Report
Edmonton Police seize cargo of illegal cigarettes valued at more than $207,000
CBC News
2 men charged after officers seize 5.4 million unstamped cigarettes in Sask.: RCMP
CBC News
6 people, 3 Winnipeg stores face charges after millions of cigarettes seized in smuggling investigation
CityNews Ottawa
Ottawa by-law officers have seized over $61K worth of contraband tobacco, vape products since April of 2022
Radio NL
Imperial Tobacco suggests organized crime fueling illegal cigarette sales in B.C.
CTV News Atlantic
RCMP find 120K contraband cigarettes during N.B. traffic stop
Simcoe Reformer
$138,000 in contraband tobacco seized in Brant County
NewsWire
Convenience Store Operators Uniting to Fight Contraband Tobacco Problem Across Canada
Canada Police Report
RCMP FSOC contraband tobacco investigation leads to seizure of 7500 cartons and charges against two men; “street value of the tobacco seized in the range of $412,000.00 to $450,000.00”
Global News
BC Crime Stoppers to crack down on the sale of illegal cigarettes
Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa man facing charges after OPP seize contraband cigarettes and shisha
CTV News Winnipeg
Manitoba seizes more than 500K illegal cigarettes
CTV News Edmonton
Drugs, 75K contraband cigarettes and $60K in cash seized in northern Alberta bust
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Thompson Rural RCMP seize 10,000 illegal cigarettes at airport
Canadian Cancer Society
Canadian Cancer Society commends world-first requirement for health warnings on every cigarette
Hamilton Police Service
Project Smoke
Toronto Sun
BONOKOSKI: A top cop now fights contraband tobacco and its mobsters
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Two men charged with possession of contraband tobacco following investigation by the Cornwall Regional Task Force
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Prince District JFO seizes more than 17-thousand contraband cigarettes
Global News
More than $250,000 in illegal cigarettes seized from Winnipeg retailers
rdnewsNOW
Red Deer man charged in major contraband bust going to trial
SaltWire Network
RCMP charge Yarmouth woman with selling illegal cigarettes
National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT)
Former Deputy OPP Commissioner Becomes NCACT Executive Director
Cloverdale Reporter
Burnaby RCMP seize $100K worth of contraband cigarettes in Surrey
CKOM News
Illegal cigarette operation in Regina goes up in smoke
CTV News Vancouver
Shotgun, motorcycle and $100K worth of cigarettes seized in Burnaby RCMP investigation
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Lac La Biche RCMP execute search warrant related to contraband tobacco investigation
Oakville News (by Ontario Provincial Police)
Search of Oakville home was part of $100,000 contraband tobacco bust
CBC News
Higher N.L. taxes driving contraband cigarette market, says convenience stores association
Toronto Sun
BONOKOSKI: Old tobacco smuggling routes now shuffling human cargo
Toronto Star
Toronto shooting victim was charged in organized crime-linked contraband cigarette bust
Toronto Sun
BONOKOSKI: More government funding needed, just follow the smoke
CTV News Winnipeg
Manitoba seizes 500K contraband cigarettes from Winnipeg home
Global News
1.35M illegal cigarettes seized in central Alberta: RCMP
The Canadian Vaping Association via Globe Newswire
The Canadian Vaping Association: Growing contraband tobacco market raises concerns about Canada’s proposed vape flavour ban
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime Unit seizes 1.56 million contraband cigarettes
Toronto Sun
BONOKOSKI: Man surprised by $864,000 in fines for peddling illegal smokes
The Brandon Sun
$110K fine for unmarked cigarettes
CTV News Winnipeg
Manitoba seizes nearly 10K contraband cigarettes after inspecting 15 Winnipeg stores
CBC News
AGLC seizes $4.5M worth of contraband tobacco in Calgary
Toronto Sun
BONOKOSKI: One man rips off Canadian taxpayers for a half-billion
Toronto Sun
BONOKOSKI: Budget watchdog points to losses due to illicit smokes
CBC News
5 men from western Manitoba arrested in connection to contraband cigarette scheme: Brandon police
CBC News
Almost 20K cigarettes seized in search, say police
Global News
RCMP seize $15K in contraband cigarettes after pulling van over for excessive speeding in Revelstoke
Simcoe Reformer
Judge: Man 'left holding the bag' in contraband cigarette scheme
The Kingston Whig Standard
$15,900 worth of contraband tobacco found near Collins Bay Institution
Toronto Sun
BONOKOSKI: Time for RCMP to battle cigarette criminals on First Nation reserves
Welland Tribune
OPP charge Winnipeg parolee after seizing contraband cigarettes in Midland
NewsWire
Contraband tobacco and prohibited weapons seized by Cornwall RCMP
NewsWire
COVID-19 Shutdown of Illegal Tobacco Manufacturing and Sale Leads to Spike in Legal Cigarette Sales
CTV News Winnipeg
Police seize 3.3 million contraband cigarettes from Winnipeg man
tbnewswatch
Up to half the cigarettes sold in the Thunder Bay area are contraband
The Guardian
P.E.I. man caught with contraband cigarettes fined more than $70,000
Newswire
Project Butane: charges laid against the leaders and truckers of a criminal contraband tobacco network for fraud estimated at more than $450 million
ChrisD Winnipeg News
Brandon Police Seize 560,000 Contraband Cigarettes
The Brantford Expositor
BONOKOSKI: Major chip falls in summer’s big contraband tobacco bust
Newswire
Ontario Government Losing $2M Daily to Black Market Tobacco - It's Time to Stop the Losses
Global News
Over 5 million illegal cigarettes seized in B.C. in 2019-20
CTV News
N.B. man arrested after police seize more than 90,000 illegal cigarettes
CBC News
More arrests made in connection with illegal tobacco operation in Six Nations: police
CBC News
Millions of contraband cigarettes seized from facility linked to GTA organized crime
Toronto Sun
BONOKOSKI: Cops’ two-year contraband tobacco probe scores big-time
CBC News
Toronto man charged by Dryden OPP over unmarked cigarettes
Sudbury News
Youth charged for possession of around 1,500 contraband cigarettes
Soo Today
Police respond to Highway 17 car crash, seize $195K worth of suspected contraband cigarettes
CTV News
Man facing $3M penalty after Manitoba RCMP uncover millions of illegal cigarettes
Journal Pioneer
Police seize 50,000 contraband cigarettes in Kensington, P.E.I.
Net News Ledger
Thunder Bay Police – Project Trapper – Drug Investigation Leads to 46 Arrests
VOCM
$165,000 in Contraband Tobacco Seized, Three Men Charged
Steinbach Online
Over One Million Contraband Cigarettes Seized Near Falcon Lake
CTV News
Calgary police seize $500K in drugs and cash, along with firearms
Toronto Sun
BONOKOSKI: Contraband cigarettes fund terrorism, organized crime
Muskoka Region
'1 in 3 cigarettes illegal' and contraband tobacco problem growing: Muskoka Crime Stoppers
Sault Online
Contraband Tobacco is a Growing Problem
Toronto Sun
BONOKOSKI: Feds must ‘follow the money’ to combat organized crime
CTV News
Prison sentences, $2.1 million in fines for contraband tobacco traffickers
Toronto Sun News
BONOKOSKI: Dark side of contraband tobacco is a danger-filled docudrama
CTV News
Seizure of more than 1M cigarettes in Manitoba leads to charges
Newswire
Contraband tobacco and vehicle seizure in Cornwall: CRTF
Toronto Sun News
BONOKOSKI: Ontario changes ‘contraband’ to less contentious term
Toronto Sun News
BONOKOSKI: Plain-pack cigarettes will be another boon to contraband traders
CBC News
Police seize more than 310,000 contraband cigarettes, charge 52 people at Manitoba-Ontario border
CBC News
Plummeting tobacco sales sign of black market growth, says coalition
CTV News
B.C. seized 1.6 million cigarettes’ worth of contraband tobacco over 3 months
Timmins Today News
Police seize $23,000 worth of contraband tobacco at traffic stop
Toronto Sun News
BONOKOSKI: Will Health Canada’s newest war on Big Tobacco aid contraband?
CTV News
Health Canada sets plain-packaging rules for tobacco, to take effect in November
CBC News
Prohibited driver caught with 2K unmarked cigarettes in Aberfoyle: OPP
CTV News
Organized crime behind contraband tobacco costs governments billions
CBC News
Contraband cigarettes linked to a 'staggering' number of fires