Eight people facing more than 48 charges in illegal tobacco investigation

File photo of Six Nations Police badge. (The Canadian Press Images/Francis Vachon)

Eight people are facing a long list of charges after an investigation into a tobacco manufacturing facility on Six Nations of the Grand River Territory.

The Ontario Provincial Police and Six Nations Police began looking into the allegations in February of last year. They believed the facility was being run by members of a non-Indigenous criminal network and the profits from the tobacco sales were not being invested in the Six Nations community.

In May 2025, more than 25,000 kg of contraband tobacco and 1,360 kg of illicit cannabis was seized.

As part of the ongoing investigation, eight people were arrested between Jan. 20, 2026 and Jan. 26, 2026.

A 26-year-old from Ancaster, a 32-year-old from Ancaster, a 22-year-old from Hamilton, a 36-year-old from Hamilton and a 37-year-old from Hamilton were each charged with trafficking contraband tobacco, unlawful manufacturing of a tobacco product, unlawful packaging of a tobacco product, unlawful possession or sale of tobacco products, possession of tobacco manufacturing equipment, possession of illicit cannabis and possession for the purpose of distributing.

A 26-year-old from Markham was charged with trafficking contraband tobacco and unlawful possession or sale of tobacco products.

A 26-year-old from Ohsweken was charged with possession of a prohibited weapon, device or ammunition.

A 57-year-old also from Ohsweken was charged with contravention of firearm storage regulations and authorized possession of a firearm.