Subjects: LAW, CFG, MAT

Illegal cigarettes lead to the seizure of a Cadillac

CORNWALL, ON, Aug. 18, 2023 /CNW/ - Three people thought selling illegal cigarettes would pay off. Instead, their Cadillac SUV has been seized by police. After search warrants were executed, illegal drugs were also found and now the trio are facing justice.

On Tuesday June 27^th, 2023, members of the Cornwall Regional Task Force (CRTF) began an investigation into unstamped tobacco allegedly being sold out of a Cornwall residence. During the investigation, a vehicle was seen being loaded with boxes of suspicious items. When the vehicle was stopped, police found the boxes filled with illegal, unstamped tobacco. As a result of information uncovered after the individuals were arrested, a search warrant was obtained and executed at a residence in the 1400 block of First Street in Cornwall.

The investigation resulted in the seizure of the following:

• One white 2013 Cadillac XTS
• 160,859 unstamped cigarettes
• 50 ounces of unstamped pipe tobacco
• 206 grams of suspected oxycodone
• 21 capsules of suspected hydromorphone
• 23.7 grams of suspected benzodiazepine
• One conducted energy weapon

Jeffrey Lalonde (43) of Cornwall and Jonathan Auty (61) of Cornwall were charged with:

• Possession of unstamped tobacco, contrary to Section 32(1) Excise Act 2001,

They are scheduled to attend Cornwall Court on September 5^th, 2023.

Thomas Touchette (71) of Cornwall was charged for the following offences:

• Possession of unstamped tobacco, contrary to Section 32(1) Excise Act, 2001
• 3 x Possession of a controlled substance, contrary to Section 4(1) Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
• Possession of a prohibited weapon, contrary to Section 91(2) of the Criminal Code.

Thomas Touchette is scheduled to appear at Cornwall Court on September 5^th, 2023.

All three accused also face provincial charges under the Ontario Tobacco Tax Act.

The CRTF is a joint task force made up of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and the Ontario Ministry of Finance.

Law enforcement agencies work diligently to make our communities a safer place to live but your assistance in remaining vigilant and informing us of any suspicious activities will help us be even more effective. If you have any information related to smuggling, drug importation, trafficking, or possession, or wish to report other criminality, you can contact local police, the RCMP Cornwall Detachment at 613-937-2800, the Ontario RCMP at 1-800-387-0020, the confidential CBSA Border Watch toll-free line at 1-888-502-9060 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), at any time.

Twitter: @RCMPONT
Facebook: RCMP.Ontario
Instagram: rcmpontario
YouTube: RCMPGRCPOLICE
Website: RCMP in Ontario

SOURCE Royal Canadian Mounted Police

News published on 18 august 2023 at 10:00 and distributed by: