Edmonton, Alberta – Edmonton Police Service (EPS) members seized more than $207,000 of illegal contraband cigarettes during a recent traffic stop.
At approximately 1:20 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, members of the EPS Commercial Vehicle Inspection Unit (CVIU) conducted a traffic stop involving a cube van near 75 Street and Argyll Road for commercial vehicle offences. The EPS member subsequently became suspicious of the nature of the driver’s activities, while questioning him.
After a walk-around inspection of the vehicle, CVIU members discovered a cargo of contraband tobacco in the back of the van. A total of 83 cases of illegal cigarettes were seized with an estimated street value of $207,500.
“Contraband tobacco is becoming a mainstay of organized crime in our city,” says CVIU Const. Trevor Henderson. “Criminals eventually have to use city roadways to transport their illegal cargo, and that’s where we occasionally cross paths.”
The driver and passenger, Mohamad Al Jamal, 41, and Abdul Khalyan, 18, were both charged with one count of trafficking in contraband tobacco. Al Jamal was also issued tickets for commercial vehicle offences.
Edmonton Police Service
MRU #: 22R116
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