News release
Traffic stop leads to seizure of over a million unstamped cigarettes by Traffic Services
March 19, 2026
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Amherst, Nova Scotia
From: Nova Scotia RCMP
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Continued investigation has led to another search and seizure of more than a million unstamped cigarettes by Traffic Services officers.
On March 15, RCMP Northwest Traffic Services, working with Northeast Traffic Services, conducted a traffic stop on Hwy. 104 near Amherst. Officers executed a search warrant on the vehicle, a Mercedes van with Ontario licence plates. In the search, investigators seized 163 cases of illegal tobacco totalling approximately 1.63 million cigarettes.
The driver, a 69-year-old woman from Lower Sackville, was safely arrested. She will face charges under the Criminal Code, the Excise Act, and the Nova Scotia Revenue Act related to possession of unstamped tobacco. She was released by police on conditions pending a future court appearance scheduled for June.
This traffic stop follows a previous seizure of 160 cases of illegal tobacco from a vehicle that occurred on March 7. More information here.
The Nova Scotia Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco Division continues to assist these investigations. The Nova Scotia RCMP is also working with Ontario Provincial Police Police-led Contraband Tobacco Enforcement Team as both of the recent traffic stops involved vehicles with plates from Ontario.
File #: 2026-315116
