Two Manitobans fined $2M over contraband cigarettes seized on First Nation

WINNIPEG – The Manitoba government says two men have been fined more than $2 million after being found guilty of possessing almost one-million contraband cigarettes.

Craig Blacksmith and Tammy Walters were each convicted of offences under Manitoba tobacco tax laws.

Manitoba’s Finance Department says each man has been given 10 years to pay the fines and penalties.

The charges stem from a 2014 raid by RCMP and provincial tax investigators on a smoke shop at Dakota Plains First Nation.

Along with the cigarettes that did not have a Manitoba tax stamp, authorities also seized 1,845 tins of chewing tobacco, six firearms, cash and one vehicle.

The issue of illegal cigarettes has cropped up across Canada with several provinces moving to shut down the untaxed trade.