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Jail Time For Contraband Tobacco

 
 

September 21, 2009 9:57 AM

Ontario's Tough Tobacco Tax Laws at Work

Carl Fontaine of Fort Alexander, Manitoba was sentenced to six months in jail and fined $338,155 after being found guilty of possession of unmarked cigarettes for the purpose of sale in the Ontario Court of Justice in Marathon, on September 15, 2009.

The Ministry of Revenue's Special Investigations Branch charged Fontaine after an incident on August 23, 2008 when the Ontario Provincial Police pulled over a vehicle near Marathon, and discovered 910,000 unmarked cigarettes. The cigarettes were seized and forfeited to the Ontario government. 

In addition to the fine, Fontaine must pay an $84,523 surcharge to the Victims' Justice Fund.

QUICK FACTS

 
  • The Government of Ontario has many enforcement measures to discourage the sale of contraband tobacco.
  • Over the past two years, approximately 67 million contraband cigarettes have been seized in Ontario by ministry investigators and inspectors.

CONTACTS

  • Public Inquiries
    1 866 668-8297
  • Scott Blodgett
    Media Inquiries Only
    416 325-0324



Ministry of Revenue
ontario.ca/revenue