West Shore RCMP rang in the new year with $1.7 million worth of contraband tobacco off the street.

About 17,100 cartons of tobacco, roughly 171,000 individual packs, of cigarettes were seized after West Shore RCMP Drugs and Organized Crime unit executed a search warrant Dec. 30 at a home on Setchfield Avenue.

B次元官网网址淭he illicit tobacco trade often utilizes the same drug pipelines that are set up by organized crime groups therefore contributing to the growth of organized crime. I commend the efforts of our Drugs and Organized Crime Unit in taking a multifaceted approach to targeting organized crime in the West Shore,B次元官网网址� the department said in a news release.

Police say the sale of illicit tobacco helps to fund organized crime groups while also affecting the economic integrity of Canadians through lost tax revenue that would otherwise support government-funded initiatives.

This investigation is ongoing and no arrests or charges have been laid, according to the news release. Police anticipate charges and a various fines once the investigation is complete.