Illegal cigarettes net Moncton man $1.13M fine

A 23-year-old Moncton, N.B., man has been fined more than $1 million in connection with a major seizure of contraband tobacco.

Trevor Howie Dow had more than two million illegal cigarettes in his vehicle when he was arrested near Salisbury in eastern New Brunswick on June 4, 2008.

He was initially pulled over for a motor vehicle infraction as part of the Roadcheck program, a 72-hour inspection blitz, said Cpl. Don Martin, of the RCMP Customs and Excise. He had failed to stop at weigh scales.

Dow, who couldn't provide any identification, told officials he was hauling a load of fish.

But when authorities searched his cube van, they discovered 10,800 cartons of illegal cigarettes, Martin said.

Dow, who appeared in Moncton provincial court on Wednesday, was ordered to pay $367,200 under the Excise Act and $763,400 under the provincial Tobacco Tax Act.

Martin said he's never seen such a high fine in all his years with the unit.

Dow will pay the fine off in monthly installments of $200.