Nearly $1 million in cash, illegal cigarettes seized as Coquitlam home targeted in contraband tobacco bust
A Coquitlam home was at the centre of a sweeping contraband tobacco investigation that netted nearly $1 million in cash and more than 1,100 cartons of illegal cigarettes, police announced this week.
The bust was led by the Street Crime Unit of the New Westminster Police Department (NWPD), which executed search warrants last summer at a residence in Coquitlam, a business in New Westminster, and several vehicles linked to the investigation, according to a Feb. 17 press release.
Officers arrested two people in connection with the alleged illegal cigarette operation, which police say was supplying contraband tobacco to the Lower Mainland.
During the coordinated searches, investigators seized roughly $980,000 in cash along with a massive stockpile of illicit cigarettes believed to have been manufactured and distributed outside regulated channels.
“Keeping illegal tobacco off the streets helps make our communities safer and supports local businesses that work hard to ensure they are following the law and selling legal products,” stated Sgt. Andrew Leaver of the NWPD. “Neighbours in New Westminster who suspect the sale of illegal tobacco are asked to reach out to the New Westminster Police Department.”
Police warn the illegal tobacco trade is often closely connected to organized crime.
Profits from contraband cigarette sales are frequently used to finance more serious criminal activity, according to the NWPD, including firearms trafficking, drug smuggling, and human trafficking. Illegally produced tobacco products also pose health risks because they bypass regulatory inspections and quality controls.
Beyond public safety concerns, officials note the underground tobacco market deprives governments of significant tax revenue used to support various initiatives.
