News Release: Two Southwold, Ontario men fined for illegal CIGARETTES
For Immediate Release
May 9, 2007
TWO SOUTHWOLD, ONTARIO MEN FINED FOR ILLEGAL CIGARETTES
50,000 Cigarettes Seized, Forfeited
BRANTFORD – Two residents of Southwold, Ontario have been convicted for Tobacco Tax Act offences.
Taylor Martin Doxtator and Robbie James Ireland were convicted of possessing unmarked cigarettes without legal authority. They were each fined $18,087 and must also each pay a surcharge of $4,522 to the Ontario's Victims' Justice Fund, bringing the total court-imposed penalties to $45,218.
Court was told that the Ontario Provincial Police detected, seized and turned over to the Ministry of Finance five boxes containing 250 cartons of cigarettes in Doxtator and Ireland’s truck while stopped for a traffic offence on August 28, 2005. Charges were laid after ministry investigators confirmed that Doxtator and Ireland did not hold permits to possess the unmarked (untaxed) cigarettes.
Vigorous enforcement of the Tobacco Tax Act is an important component of the Ontario government's Smoke Free Ontario initiative. The Government of Ontario has many enforcement measures to discourage the sale of contraband tobacco. Provincial tax laws include jail terms for tax evasion and other serious offences, in addition to assessments of additional taxes and penalties, seizures, forfeitures and fines.
- 30 -
Contact: |
|
