Mounties have seized thousands of cartons of illegal cigarettes in central Alberta after a months-long investigation. RCMP received reports that someone in the Westlock area was selling unstamped cigarettes in January. This information was corroborated by a separate incident where a carton of illegal cigarettes was seized from a person claiming they purchased the cigarettes from a store called The Boutique. Over several months, an undercover officer bought cigarettes from the business. On June 17 and 18, multiple warrants were executed and goods were seized. The seller was arrested and released on conditions. In the following two months, two more purchases were made by the undercover officer in connection with the same seller. One purchase led to a separate investigation that resulted in warrants executed in the Morinville and Edmonton areas in late August. The second purchase resulted in the discovery of a storage location on a rural property in Westlock County. The property was searched on Sept. 15, and the seller was arrested again. The months-long investigation resulted in the seizure of 147,700 cartons of unstamped cigarettes, with an approximate retail value of $30,008,705, representing nearly $10 million in deferred taxes. Three firearms, $225,045 in Canadian cash, and two vehicles were also seized. A 50-year-old man from Westlock has been charged with multiple offences including the illegal sale of tobacco products, fraud over $5,000, three counts of careless use of a firearm, and possession of property of obtained crime over $5,000. The man has since been released on conditions and is to appear again in court on Oct. 29. Westlock is about 70 kilometres north of Edmonton.
