Contraband tobacco, illegal immigrants and human trafficking in police sights

Located between the borders of the United States and Ontario, the area is well known for business in contraband tobacco. Now, just a few days from the Montreal Grand Prix, illegal immigrants and human trafficking have also been the subject of an awareness campaign by the police.

It is not by accident that the operation is taking place today and tomorrow, just a few hours before the Grand Prix. "There is increased movement through the region with the Montreal Grand Prix which is an international event," said police officer Pizarro of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. We're watching out for cigarettes, but also human trafficking."

The officer pointed out that, at the road block on the approaches to the Larocque Bridge, police watch the behaviour of drivers. "If there are four or five girls in a vehicle and one of them has something unusual about her makeup or something different about her, we'll question her."

A campaignagainst sexual exploitation was launched last week in Montreal.

The region is also a gateway for illegal immigrants as was revealed in the <@Ri>Saint-François<@$p> last October. "There is also a lack of security that is created by the phenomenon of illegal points of entry," indicated Jacques Rainville, Inspector and Head of the Vallée-du-Haut-Saint-Laurent RCMP detachment. "These points of entry are on private property. People are afraid." Illegal immigrants sometimes hide in buildings like garages and barns which contributes to an atmosphere of distrust among some.

The scourge of tobacco

Wednesday was the launch of a two day awareness campaign in the region. The RCMP and the Sûreté du Québec carried out an operation in the area while other police forces or law enforcement agents did the same in Ontario and even the United States . A helicopter flew over head to indicate their presence but also to survey the river banks from the air.

Police met with residents to inform them about cross-border security and to remind them that police officers are allies. "We know there is a problem and a supply zone, which is Akwesasne, a cross-border duty free zone," explained Captain Frédéric Gaudreau, Head of the SQ division for Crimes Against the State. There is a lot of transportation by boat which creates public security problems. Waterfront residents complain about damages."

The SQ mentioned that the crackdown on contraband tobacco was an ongoing mission in the region. "It is an issue in the area," stated Captain Gaudreau. "People are stopped every week for transporting bulk tobacco."

Rainville mentioned the implications of an arrest for this kind of offence . "Young people don't realize all the consequences they are facing," he said. "When an arrest takes place, everything is seized; even the vehicle or boat. And then, when you get taxed by Revenu Québec, it's pretty scary."

RCMP Corporal François Gagnon admitted that these large scale operations were effective. "People tell us what they have seen," he emphasized. "They often don't know who to call. We remind them about our contact information and our job."