Ontario Police Bust Illegal Cigarette Factory on First Nations Reserve Run by External Criminal Network, Staffed by Foreign Nationals

Ontario police say a recent raid on a contraband cigarette factory on Canada’s largest First Nation reserve led to two arrests, the discovery of 13 foreign workers, and the seizure of over $10 million in illegal tobacco products.

The raid on Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, roughly 100 kilometres southwest of Toronto, resulted in the seizure of more than 40,000 kilograms of contraband tobacco, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said in a June 17 release.

The cigarette plant was connected to a “non-indigenous criminal network,” the release said, and staffed by 13 people identified as foreign nationals. Police said the profits generated from the illegal tobacco production were being channelled into the external criminal enterprise.

“This investigation highlights the significant role criminal networks play in the manufacturing and distribution of contraband tobacco in Ontario,” OPP Chief Superintendent Mike Stoddart said in the release.

Raid

The OPP says its Contraband Tobacco Enforcement Team launched an investigation in April after being asked to help the Six Nations Police Service in a separate incident that led investigators to uncover a larger criminal operation.

As a result of the investigation, search warrants were executed on June 11 at a residence in Hamilton, Ont., about 40 kilometres southwest of the Six Nations’ largest community of Ohsweken. A warrant was executed the same day at the suspected illegal cigarette plant on the reserve territory.

Tobacco products seized at the factory included approximately 300 kilograms of shisha tobacco, completed cigarettes and fine-cut tobacco, and five cigarette manufacturing lines, according to police.

Authorities say they also seized three stolen vehicles, a handgun, a truck believed to be related to the criminal network, roughly $25,000 in cash, cell phones, electronics, packaging materials, and various cigarette-manufacturing components.

While executing the warrants, police encountered 13 foreign nationals at the factory. They did not disclose the individuals’ nationalities or say whether any arrests were made. Police said the investigation now involves the Canada Border Services Agency.

Six Nations Police Chief Darren Montour said the investigation relates to criminal groups who were “exploiting” indigenous land.

“This operation involved non-Indigenous criminal networks exploiting Indigenous lands, with profits that did not benefit our community,” Montour said in the OPP release. “Criminal activity of this nature does not reflect our values, and we will continue to work alongside our partners to take action against criminal activity that undermines the integrity of our territory.”

Charges

The warrants led to the arrest of 34-year-old Andrew Hadaddin and 45-year-old Mustafa Jaber of Hamilton.