Police seize significant amount of contraband tobacco

The RCMP seized a significant amount of contraband tobacco during a traffic stop in Deer Lake on September 20.

A 22-year-old man from Gambo and a 55-year-old man from Cormack are facing a number of charges.

Officers searched a truck and a 15-foot utility trailer in Deer Lake and found 7,500 cartons of contraband tobacco, 100 cartons of contraband cigars, a small quantity of marihuana and a quantity of cash.

A carton of contraband tobacco typically sells for between $55-$60, putting the total street value of the tobacco seized in the range of $412,000.00 to $450,000.00. This amount of tobacco would represent an approximate loss of $1,650,000.00 in revenue to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.