Brands faked on Chinese-made smokes

Brands faked on Chinese-made smokes

47,500 cartons seized in bust in late August
Sep. 7, 2006. 03:46 PM
BOB MITCHELL
STAFF REPORTER


Details of a massive seizure of more than 47,000 cartons of counterfeit
Canadian-brand cigarettes were revealed today as RCMP announced the arrests of
three Toronto men allegedly involved in the criminal enterprise.
The men, who received bail, were arrested Aug. 28 after officers executed a
search warrant at a trading company in east Toronto where 47,500 cartons
supposedly containing Player's Light and DuMaurier cigarettes were seized.

RCMP officials said the contraband smokes were worth an estimated $3.1 million,
of which $2.1 million in duties and taxes were evaded.

The cigarettes arrived in Halifax by ship from China in mid-August and were
transported by rail in containers to a Canada Customs clearing house in
Brampton, officials close to the investigation said

The smokes were destined for Greater Toronto distribution, police said.

After being discovered by Canada Customs officers examining a freight container
at a Brampton facility, it's believed the cigarettes were then allowed to
continue to the Tai Ton Trading company on Melford Dr. in east Toronto under a
controlled delivery conducted by the RCMP.

RCMP allege the group planned to sell the contraband cigarettes to small
retailers, and friends and others individuals, some of whom may have known they
weren’t legitimate cigarettes, while others may have been duped as middlemen
supplying the product to stores.

Wei-Hung Chou, 35, Ju Wen Zhou, 31, and Jia Zhe He, 20, all of Toronto, were
charged with unlawful possession of tobacco products. They’re to appear next at
Old City Hall Court in Toronto on Nov. 3.


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