Strange Phenomenon: The Quebec Wave Of Old Age Tobacco Smugglers

We know that the prolonged decline in interest rates over the past 10 years has had a significant impact on retiree incomes. Consequently, many people find themselves with less to support themselves.

But what we did not know was that a growing number of our beloved elders would choose, in desperation, to turn to selling contraband tobacco to make their ends meet. What a sad reality!

Indeed, how else can we explain the wave of old age tobacco smugglers that is sweeping over Quebec?

See by yourself:

July 2017 (Jonquière, source: Le Lac St-Jean weekly)

  • 71 years old: On Labrecque Street in Jonquière, the police found 60 packs of 200 cigarettes valued at $ 3900, 10 packs of 20 cigarettes and a Cadillac Escalade 2011 vehicle. Cigarettes were seized in the vehicle and a 71-year-old man was arrested. The investigation determined that he was acting as a supplier to third parties;
  • 65 years old: A 65-year-old man was arrested in a dwelling on the rue de Nantes in Jonquiere, where he had 14 packs of 200 cigarettes worth $ 1,320 and five cartons (8 packs of 25 cigarettes), a value of $ 330.

March 2017 (Lavaltrie and Chicoutimi, sources: Le Nouvelliste et le Courrier du Saguenay)

  • 64 years old: A police operation conducted by the Sûreté du Québec led to a search of a vehicle that was traveling on Highway 40 in Lavaltrie. It was at this point that a 64-year-old man was arrested by the police with 52,000 cigarettes and money;
  • 79 years old: The Saguenay police conducted a search in Chicoutimi. A 79-year-old man was arrested there. A case of various brands and a 2005 Subaru Forester was seized with a total value of approximately $ 6,750. This is the second search of this individual’s home this year. The same address and the same vehicle were targeted by police officers earlier in 2017.

February 2017 (L’Islet and Drummondville, sources : CMATV.ca et La Tribune)

  • 59 and 62 years old: During a search, police seized about 8,500 contraband cigarettes and more than two kilos of bulk tobacco. The police arrested two women aged 59 and 62;
  • 70 years old: The Sûreté du Québec conducted three searches in residences in the Drummondville area, arresting and seizing nearly 120,000 illegal cigarettes. The three individuals intercepted, a septuagenarian and a man and woman in their fifties, are suspected of being involved in a network of tobacco smuggling. The police seized 593 bags of 200 cigarettes, $ 1,310, and a vehicle.

June 2016 (Asbestos, sources: La Tribune and here)

  • 76 and 78 years old: The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) seized 30 packs of 200 cigarettes and more than $ 2,000 in money in a residence on Coakley Boulevard. They arrested a 76-year-old woman involved in a contraband tobacco network operating in the Asbestos area.  Another septuagenarian from Asbestos was also arrested. The 78-year-old man may also have to face charges in connection with contraband tobacco.

August 2015 (Shawinigan, source: Le Nouvelliste)

  • 72 to 75 years old: The police got their hands on 75,000 contraband cigarettes and $ 9,000. Money and a minivan were seized as offense property. Three men aged 72 to 75 should appear at the Shawinigan Courthouse.

This long list is only scratching the surface.

Presumably, the popularity of contraband tobacco among our elders is first and foremost due to its availability, courtesy of a government that tolerates the open sale of contraband tobacco on Native reserves.

Nothing could be easier, indeed! One only needs to purchase a case of 50 cartons of contraband tobacco in the reserve for the small amount of $ 400 and then resell it all at $ 25 apiece for a nice quick profit of $ 1,250, tax and duty free.

This, then, is another adverse effect of government excessive tobacco taxes: the corruption of our elders!


 

Photo credit: Victor

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