An estimated $2.5 million worth of contraband shisha and cigarettes was seized from a central Edmonton storage locker facility after an Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) investigation.
Officials said the tax revenue that would have been lost from these products would be more than $972,000.
Imad Assi, Ibrahim Al-Sabbag and Mahmud Al-Sabbag were each charged with trafficking in contraband tobacco contrary to section 121.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada.
All three are scheduled to appear in Edmonton provincial court on April 17.
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“Contraband tobacco is any tobacco product that does not comply with federal and provincial laws related to importation, marking, manufacturing, stamping and payment of duties and taxes,” the province explained in a news release Friday.
Contraband tobacco usually comes from illegal manufacturers, counterfeits, tax-exempt diversions or the resale of stolen legal tobacco, the news release added.
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Legal tobacco products will have a red (Alberta) or peach/light tan (Canada) stamp with: “DUTY PAID CANADA DROIT ACQUITTÉ.”
Alberta Sheriffs also helped in this investigation.