News Release: Contraband tobacco seized from three businesses
For Immediate Release
June 11, 2007
CONTRABAND TOBACCO SEIZED FROM THREE BUSINESSES
Surveillance Operations and Inspections Lead To Convictions Under Tobacco Tax Act
HAMILTON – Three Hamilton-area residents were convicted in separate incidents as a result of Ministry of Finance investigations.
On May 15, Mohammed Gabr, director of 1649729 Ontario Inc. operating as Petro Green, pleaded guilty to possessing unmarked cigarettes contrary to the Tobacco Tax Act. Court was told that following a 2006 surveillance operation by the Ministry of Finance and RCMP, 23,625 unmarked cigarettes were seized from the Toronto gas station and convenience store. Gabr was fined $2,000 and ordered to pay a surcharge of $500 to the Ontario Victims’ Justice Fund. An additional $500 fine was imposed under the Excise Act, 2001.
On May 22, Yen Do Ta, owner of Elizabeth Variety & Deli, pleaded guilty and was convicted of possessing untaxed cigarettes for the purposes of sale. She was ordered to pay $2,000 in fines, court costs and a payment of $500 to the Ontario Victims’ Justice Fund. Investigators seized 8,900 unmarked cigarettes from Elizabeth Variety & Deli in January 2007.
In October 2006, 15,130 grams of untaxed tobacco was seized from Farah Foods #24. Basil Farah pleaded guilty to a charge under the Tobacco Tax Act on behalf of 708073 Ontario Inc. on May 22 and was fined $3,500 and ordered to pay a surcharge of $875 to the Ontario Victims’ Justice Fund.
Vigorous enforcement of the Tobacco Tax Act is an important component of the Ontario government's Smoke-Free Ontario strategy. The Government of Ontario has many enforcement measures to discourage the sale of contraband tobacco and has strengthened the Tobacco Tax Act with new inspection and seizure powers, new offence provisions, increased fines and civil penalties, and provisions that permit tax investigators to share intelligence information with police and other agencies that enforce tobacco-related laws.
In the 2007 Budget, the McGuinty government proposed to further enhance enforcement measures by temporarily suspending tobacco sales privileges of retailers who repeatedly contravene the Tobacco Tax Act or the Smoke-Free Ontario Act.
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