Ministry of Revenue

685 Cartons of Illegally Obtained Cigarettes Seized

Ministry of Revenue Surveillance Results In Successful Prosecution

    BURLINGTON, ON, July 30 — A Toronto man was found transporting
illegally acquired cigarettes, with an estimated retail value of $47,950,
after ministry investigators conducted a surveillance operation.
    On July 17, 2007, Sang Kie Kim was convicted of possessing illegally
obtained cigarettes under the Tobacco Tax Act. Kim was fined $2,740 and
ordered to pay a surcharge of $685 to the Ontario Victims' Justice Fund. In
addition to the fines, all tobacco was forfeited to the province.
    On February 16, 2007, ministry investigators observed Kim leaving his
residence and travelling to an Ontario reserve. Kim's vehicle stopped after
leaving the reserve and an investigator observed cigarettes in the vehicle.
The vehicle was searched, and investigators seized 685 cartons of illegally
acquired cigarettes. Kim was charged when it was determined that the
cigarettes in his car were received from a person who did not have the
required permits.
    Vigorous enforcement of the Tobacco Tax Act is an important component of
the Ontario government's Smoke-Free Ontario initiative. The Government of
Ontario has many enforcement measures to discourage the sale of contraband
tobacco and has strengthened the act with new inspection and seizure powers,
new offence provisions, increased fines and civil penalties and provisions
that permit ministry investigators to share intelligence information with
police and other agencies that enforce tobacco-related laws.
    The McGuinty government is proposing to further enhance enforcement
measures by temporarily suspending tobacco sales privileges of retailers who
repeatedly contravene the Tobacco Tax Act or the Smoke-Free Ontario Act.

    Disponible en français

    

                 For more information visit www.rev.gov.on.ca
    

Contact Info