Bell Island RCMP worked in partnership with Canadian Postal Inspectors and arrested 68-year-old Blair Brown of Bell Island, who was in possession of contraband tobacco, on November 20, 2020.
On November 13, 2020, Canadian Postal Inspectors in St. John's alerted Bell Island RCMP of suspicious packages that were destined for a resident of Bell Island. On November 20, Brown was found in possession of contraband tobacco and was arrested following a traffic stop on Bell Island. Police located and seized a quantity of contraband tobacco.
A search warrant was obtained and executed on his Bell Island residence. Various electronic devices and an additional quantity of contraband tobacco were seized from the home. The investigation led to a total seizure of 130 cartons of contraband tobacco.
Brown was transported to the detachment and was later released from custody. He is set to attend court on February 2, 2021, to answer to charges under the Federal Excise Act and Provincial Revenue Administration Act for the possession of unstamped and contraband tobacco respectively.
Bell Island RCMP reminds residents that possession of contraband cigarettes, which are not properly stamped as per the Excise Act 2001, or importing cigarettes into the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, are serious charges and if convicted, are accompanied by significant fines and or periods of imprisonment.