Over 1.6 Million Illegal Cigarettes Seized in Nova Scotia Traffic Stop
On March 15, 2026, Nova Scotia RCMP Traffic Services stopped a Mercedes van on Highway 104 near Amherst, leading to the seizure of 163 cases of unstamped cigarettes, totaling approximately 1.63 million illegal cigarettes. The vehicle bore Ontario license plates and was searched under a warrant issued by investigators.
The driver, a 69-year-old woman from Lower Sackville, was arrested without incident and charged under the Criminal Code, the Excise Act, and the Nova Scotia Revenue Act for possession of unstamped tobacco products. She was released with conditions pending a court appearance scheduled for June.
This significant seizure disrupts a large-scale illicit tobacco distribution effort, impacting public health, provincial revenue, and law enforcement efforts targeting contraband tobacco networks. It highlights ongoing cross-provincial challenges in regulating tobacco smuggling in Canada and the commitment of RCMP traffic services to combat illegal trade routes affecting Nova Scotia’s economy and legal market.
