Speeding with van full of illegal tobacco near Revelstoke proved costly for two Alberta men

Two Alberta men learned the hard way that speeding while transporting illegal goods is not a wise move.

They were stopped by RCMP officers conducting a speed check as they were heading west on Highway 1 east of Revelstoke last Wednesday, March 17, at 9:30 a.m.

The two Alberta men were driving at 150 km/h in a 90 km/h zone.

While checking the van, the police officer noticed all the rear seats were folded down and filled with numerous large boxes wrapped in plastic.

The officer told the driver, a man in his thirties, and passenger, a man in his sixties, that the van would be impounded for excessive speed.

“The officer conducted routine computer checks on the van’s occupants and, as a result of the information learned and the behaviour of the driver, he formed the grounds to believe a criminal offence was being committed,” an RCMP news release states. “The officer, along with his partner, arrested both men for trafficking contraband tobacco.”

They found 14 boxes with 700 cartons of illegal, unstamped tobacco. In all, there were 5,600 packs of cigarettes worth more than $15,000.

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