Three from northern Ont. fined $526K for illegal cigarettes

Three people – two caught in Timmins and one in Hearst – have collectively been fined $526,000 for offences related to illegal cigarettes and other tobacco products. (File)

Three people – two caught in Timmins and one in Hearst – have collectively been fined $526,000 for offences related to illegal cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Jean Begin and Christopher Young were fined $326,000 for possession of unmarked cigarettes for the purpose of sale and the possession of untaxed cigars and other tobacco for the purpose of resale.

The pair was arrested Oct. 11, 2023, in the Timmins area and were convicted June 27 of this year. They were each fined $163,055.52, plus a 25 per cent victim surcharge.

They were caught by an official with the Ministry of Transportation driving a U-Haul carrying hundreds of thousands of illegal cigarettes.

“OPP officers assisted with the traffic stop and received authorization from a Ministry of Finance investigator under Section 24 of the Tobacco Tax Act to search the vehicle,” the finance ministry said in a news release Tuesday.

“The OPP officers located 720,000 unmarked cigarettes, 40,000 untaxed cigars and 333,459 grams of other tobacco. The tobacco products were seized and forfeited.”

And Bradley Wiens, who was caught in Hearst, was fined $200,000 after the OPP stopped him March 14, 2023, on Highway 11.

“The OPP constable was given authorization under the Tobacco Tax Act to search the vehicle,” the Ministry of Finance said.

“A total of 982,000 unmarked cigarettes and $660 in Canadian currency were found in the vehicle. The tobacco products and monies were seized and forfeited.”

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He was convicted June 18 of this year and also must pay a 25 per cent victim fine surcharge.

“Cigarettes sold in cartons or packages without Ontario’s yellow stamp are illegal, subject to certain exceptions,” the news release said.

“Cigarettes sold in clear plastic bags are illegal, as is engaging in the tobacco business without the required permits.”

Since January 2020 in Ontario, there have been 422 Tobacco Tax Act convictions yielding fines of more than $4 million, 28 jail terms, 67 probation terms, and five community service terms.