A joint investigation between the RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region’s Transnational Serious and Organized Crime (TSOC) team in Saskatchewan and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) resulted in charges against four people in connection to a smuggling ring that included Canada’s railway system.
RCMP say the accused are alleged to have illegally transported nearly 116,000 kg of tobacco into Canada from the United States, as well as interprovincially, between October 2020 and April 2024.
Last month on September 21st the four accused were each charged with conspiracy to smuggle into Canada, conspiracy to transport tobacco, conspiracy to possess raw leaf tobacco and conspiracy to evade compliance.
Each the accused faces additional charges for their alleged roles in the smuggling operation. All four are from Ontario and Johnny Gamboa, Harminder Grewal, Rinnamoon Haddad and Avikesh Sharma are in Toronto Provincial Court Thursday.
In a news release CBSA Regional Director General, Prairie Region, said investigations like this highlight the importance of partnerships with the RCMP and other law enforcement agencies.
Janalee Bell-Boychuk said, “By disrupting this transnational network, the CBSA and its partners are protecting Canada’s economy from smuggling operations that fund organized crime and rob governments of the revenue that supports the programs and services that Canadians depend on.”
Additional charges
Johnny Gamboa (48), a resident of Toronto, Ont., was charged with:
– Keeping, acquiring, disposing of goods illegally imported (raw leaf tobacco) contrary to section 155 of the Customs Act;
-Transporting of tobacco products and raw leaf tobacco contrary to section 121.1(1) of the Criminal Code;
-Falsifying or destroying records contrary to section 219 of the Excise Act;
-False statements or evasion of duties contrary to section 153 of the Customs Act (x2);
-Smuggle into Canada contrary to section 159(1) of the Customs Act;
-Keeping, acquiring, disposing of goods illegally imported contrary to section 155 of the Customs Act;
-Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 contrary to section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code; and,
-Possession of property obtained from offences contrary to section 230 of the Excise Act.
Harminder Grewal (47), a resident of Brampton, Ont., was charged with:
-Keeping, acquiring, disposing of goods illegally imported (raw leaf tobacco) contrary to section 155 of the Customs Act;
-Transporting of tobacco products and raw leaf tobacco contrary to section 121.1(1) of the Criminal Code;
-Falsifying or destroying records contrary to section 219 of the Excise Act;
-Smuggle into Canada contrary to section 159(1) of the Customs Act;
-Keeping, acquiring, disposing of goods illegally imported contrary to section 155 of the Customs Act; and,
-False statements or evasion of duties contrary to section 153 of the Customs Act.
Rinnamoon Haddad (50), a resident of Caledon East, Ont., was charged with:
-Keeping, acquiring, disposing of goods illegally imported (raw leaf tobacco) contrary to section 155 of the Customs Act;
-Transporting of tobacco products and raw leaf tobacco contrary to section 121.1(1) of the Criminal Code;
-Falsifying or destroying records contrary to section 219 of the Excise Act; and,
-False statements or evasion of duties contrary to section 153 of the Customs Act.
Avikesh Sharma (49), a resident of Mississauga, Ont., was charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 contrary to section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code.
