On February 10, 2020, at approximately 3:00 pm, the RCMP Roving Traffic Unit conducted a traffic stop on a westbound vehicle located on Highway 1, near Falcon Lake, Manitoba.
Following a discussion with the two occupants of the vehicle, an inspection of the load uncovered 120 cases of illegal tobacco, containing 1,200,000 cigarettes.
RCMP have arrested two males, 47-year-old Issa Ahmad and 40-year-old Behzad Ahmed, both from Edmonton, Alberta. The two are facing charges under the Criminal Code of Canada for trafficking contraband tobacco, the Tax Administration and Miscellaneous Taxes Act (TAMTA) and the Excise Act, 2001. If convicted, the two males could face a mandatory triple tax penalty of $1,080,000.00 under the TAMTA.
Both males were originally remanded into custody and have since been released on court imposed conditions for a court appearance scheduled March 2, 2020, in Winnipeg.
RCMP Roving Traffic unit continue to investigate.