VALLEYFIELD, Que. – Members of the Cornwall Regional Task Force have made another contraband bust in a harbour just across the Ontario-Quebec border.
CRTF members followed a boat on the St. Lawrence River on Sunday (April 9) and, when it pulled into an area near the Beauharnois Canal, that’s when officers made their move.
Three Quebecers in their early 20s were arrested at the scene and later released with a promise to appear in a Valleyfield court.
There was 1,587 kilograms (3,498 pounds) of tobacco seized as well as a 1998 Ford cube van, waiting to haul away the contraband.
Part of the legal prosecution, the CRTF explained, is recouping lost revenue from duties and taxes to smuggling.
In this case, the RCMP estimates it’s about $499,865 in lost government revenue.
“This amount of lost revenue could pay a nurse’s salary over a seven year period,” Sgt. Garry Belair said.