Manitoba smoke shop owner, employee fined over $2M

After a two year investigation Manitoba RCMP have handed out a steep fine to the owner and an employee of a First Nation smoke shop.

In 2014, the RCMP raided a smoke shop at Dakota Plains First Nation and seized hundreds of thousands of illegal cigarettes.

Mounties and provincial taxation investigators found and seized 951,225 non-Manitoba marked cigarettes, 1845 tins of chewing tobacco, six firearms, cash and one vehicle.

On June 16 Craig Blacksmith and Tammy Walters were fined more than $2 million.

Blacksmith faced two charges of possessing and selling non-Manitoba marked cigarettes and possessing and selling other tobacco products under the provincial legislation. He was fined $8,500 and was assessed tax penalties totalling $1,159,845.60.

Walters faced similar charges and was fined a total of $6,500 and was assessed tax penalties totalling $868,009.20.

Each was given 10 years to pay the fines and penalties.