Brampton trucker charged with over 33,000 lbs of contraband tobacco

On July 19, 2018, Leeds County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Ministry of Transportation (MTO) officers were conducting joint commercial motor vehicle enforcement on Highway 401 in the Township of Leeds and Thousand Islands.

At approximately 4 p.m., officers stopped a tractor trailer that had been travelling eastbound on Highway 401, in the Township of Leeds and 1000 Islands. The tractor trailer was deemed to be unsafe for travel.

Further investigation by officers revealed the driver was hauling in excess of 33,000 lbs. of contraband tobacco with an estimated tax evasion value in excess of 5 million dollars.

The driver, Inderjeet Singh Pabla, 25-years-old, of Brampton Ontario was charged with transporting unstamped tobacco under section 121.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada (CC). He is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brockville on August 24, 2018.

The investigation remains ongoing with the assistance of the OPP Contraband Tobacco Enforcement Team and the Ministry of Finance.

Anyone with any information regarding this or any other incident contact Leeds County OPP at 613 345 1790 or 1 888 310 1122 or their nearest police authority. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 1800-222-8477 (TIPS).