$4.5M in contraband tobacco products seized by AGLC
Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis investigators have seized an estimated $4.5 million worth of contraband tobacco products, one of the largest ever in the province.
Officials said the lost tax revenue from the products is estimated at more than $2.5 million.
The investigation led to a search warrant being served by members of the Calgary Police Service and RCMP at a storage facility in southeast Calgary.
Ali Al-Hameedawi of Red Deer and Husham Hakeem of Calgary were each charged with trafficking in contraband tobacco and fraud over $5,000.
Both are scheduled to appear in Calgary Provincial Court on Aug. 26.
Contraband tobacco is products that don't comply with federal and provincial laws related to importation, marking, manufacturing, stamping and payment of duties and taxes.
Along with lost revenue, officials say contraband tobacco can pose health risks "as they lack regulatory controls and inspections oversight."
"All wholesalers and importers of tobacco into Alberta must be licensed to sell or import tobacco for resale," reads a released from the province.
"Furthermore, all tobacco products must be labelled according to federal and provincial regulations."
Anyone who suspects illegal tobacco production, packaging and/or trafficking is encouraged to contact the AGLC Tobacco Enforcement Unit at 1-800-577-2522.
Provincial revenue from tobacco taxes was $755 million in Alberta last year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore
The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city's port.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.