Approximately 86,000 illegal cigarettes have been seized following an investigation into an illicit tobacco retailer in Ottawa’s east end. The Ottawa Police Service says officers with the Central District Vanier/Overbrook Neighbourhood Resource Team (NRT) launched an investigation last September into a business operating from a storefront on Montreal Road, east of the Vanier Parkway. “Investigators determined that the business did not have a valid licence to sell tobacco products and subsequently identified the corporate entity operating the business and its owner,” police said in a media release. Police executed a search warrant at the business on Thursday and arrested three people. The store owner was arrested during a traffic stop later in the day, according to police. Officers seized 86,000 unstamped cigarettes, five kilograms of cannabis, a quantity of nicotine products, THC-containing products and cash during the investigation. “During the search, investigators also discovered an unlicensed cannabis dispensary operating from within the business and facilitating online sales,” police said. The 43-year-old business owner is facing 11 charges, including sale of unpackaged, unstamped tobacco, possession for the purpose of selling and possession of cannabis for the purpose of distributing, possession of proceeds of crime obtained by crime over $5,000, possession of a weapon dangerous to public peace and possession of a weapon for committing an offence. Police say the three store employees are charged with sale of unpackaged, unstamped tobacco and possession of a weapon dangerous public peace.
