Tobacco smuggling between Canada-U.S. results in 25 arrests

Quebec provincial police, along with the RCMP and Canadian and U.S. border police services, have arrested 25 people, seized 18 guns and 10 vehicles as they work to dismantle a contraband tobacco ring linked to organized crime.

Four-hundred police officersexecutedsearch warrants and made arrests this morning on the island of Montrealand in Dundee, about 100 kilometres southwest of Montreal, near theborder oftheAkwesasneMohawk reserve.

Police said the illegal network haslinks to theMafia and aboriginal organized crime.

Authorities allege members of the Mafia bought tobacco in the U.S. and smuggled it into Canada illegally through the Lacolle border or theAkwesasne region.

According to police, members of aboriginalorganized crime groupshelped the Mafia import the tobacco and sell it on the territory of Kahnawake.

Police have seized 40,000 kilograms of tobacco worth$7 million on the black market.

Investigators also seized more than $450,000in cash.