Police seize $100,000 in contraband tobacco after five-month investigation

Police seized more than $100,000 in contraband tobacco and tens of thousands in cash during searches in Hamilton, Brantford, Grimsby, North York and Oakville last week.

The five-month investigation, led by the Ontario Provincial Police and with assistance from the Ministry of Finance and Canada Border Services Agency, culminated in the execution of five search warrants Jan. 27.

In total, police seized:

• 290,000 contraband tobacco cigarettes

• 9,000 grams of contraband chewing tobacco

• Approximately $15,000 cash in Canadian currency

• Approximately $9,000 cash in U.S. currency

A 54-year-old Hamilton man is charged with trafficking contraband tobacco and fraud over $5,000. He was released and is scheduled to appear in court in Hamilton April 29.

OPP said the investigation is ongoing and further charges are possible.

Nicole O'Reilly is a crime and justice reporter at The Spectator. noreilly@thespec.com