Four months to pay a $271 600 fine

Two Saint-Anicet residents have been fined for smuggling tobacco.

Éric Henley Francoeur and Yannick Henley Francoeur were ordered by Revenu Québec to pay a fine of $271 600 within four months. Three other individuals, all residents of New York State, have received the same sentence for incidents occurring on April 12, 2012.

These individuals were charged with selling, delivering or having in their possession, tobacco destined for retail sale in Québec and in packages that were not identified in accordance with the Tobacco Tax Act.

Furthermore, they were not registered with Revenu Québec and did not have any of the permits required by law to undertake commercial activities related to tobacco products.

Sûreté du Québec police officers carried out a search along the shoreline in Saint-Anicet on April 12, 2012. Officers with Sûreté du Québec and the Valleyfield detachment of the RCMP also carried out searches on a car and boat. Altogether, 800 000 illegal cigarettes were seized.

(Translated by - Cathleen Johnston)