9.1 million illicit cigarettes seized after Highway 16 traffic stop

RM of Battle River — Saskatchewan RCMP have charged an Ontario man after seizing approximately 9.1 million illicit cigarettes during a traffic stop west of North Battleford earlier this month.

The seizure followed a stop by Saskatchewan Highway Patrol officers on Highway 16 in the Rural Municipality of Battle River at about 12:40 a.m. on Jan. 20. Officers stopped a truck and trailer and discovered a large quantity of illicit tobacco in the trailer. The adult male driver was arrested at the scene.

Battlefords RCMP, along with the Saskatchewan RCMP’s Yorkton Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Team, were brought in to continue the investigation. A search of the truck and trailer revealed 23 pallets of unstamped tobacco, containing an estimated 9.1 million cigarettes. The tobacco was seized and the driver was taken into RCMP custody.

Police say the investigation determined the driver was on court-ordered release conditions related to tobacco-related charges laid in Ontario, including a condition prohibiting him from being outside that province.

As a result of the investigation, 41-year-old Harwinder Kahlon of Brampton, Ont., has been charged with one count of selling, offering for sale, transporting or possessing unstamped tobacco for the purpose of sale under the Criminal Code; one count of possession of unstamped tobacco under the Excise Act; one count of possessing, storing, transporting or selling tobacco not marked in a prescribed manner under Saskatchewan’s Tobacco Tax Act; and one count of failing to comply with an undertaking condition under the Criminal Code.

Kahlon appeared in North Battleford provincial court on Jan. 21.