An ongoing investigation in the Fredericton area between Enforcement Officers with the Department of Public Safety and Fredericton Police Force has led to the arrest of two people and a seizure of unstamped cigarettes.
The province confirmed the arrest Monday of a 57-year-old man from Oak Haven and a 55-year-old Bathurst woman on January 27.
Both face charges of transporting unstamped tobacco products. Both were released on a promise to appear in Fredericton provincial court at a later date.
The seizure has a provincial tax value of about $5,115 and an additional federal excise tax value of roughly $4,209.
The province and law enforcement crack down on illegal tobacco for a couple of key reasons with police citing revenue from the sale of illegal tobacco often being funneled into organized crime and supports the underground economy in New Brunswick.
The province contends illegal tobacco also works against government cessation programs and poses a greater risk to increased smoking rates for youth.
Police say anyone with information on the sale and distribution of illegal tobacco is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
