Six tobacco investigations seize 12.95 million cigarettes
Six enforcement operations across five communities led to charges against eight people and seizures of cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco.
Summary
Ministry of Finance investigators conducted six tobacco enforcement operations between July 14 and September 30, 2026. Eight people were charged under the Tobacco Tax Act.
Seizures reported
- Ancaster, Sept. 30: 1.4 million unmarked cigarettes
- Oakville, Aug. 20: 1.28 million cigars
- Caledonia, Aug. 18: 599,000 unmarked cigarettes
- Mount Hope, July 22: 8.84 million unmarked cigarettes
- Toronto, July 22: 357,380 grams of other tobacco and 92,203 unmarked cigarettes
- Caledonia, July 14: 2,019,560 unmarked cigarettes
The ministry says cigarettes sold without Ontario’s yellow stamp are illegal, subject to certain exceptions. Cigarettes sold in clear plastic bags are also illegal, as is operating a tobacco business without the required permits.
Since April 2020, the province reports 601 convictions under the Tobacco Tax Act, with fines of more than $6.2 million, 42 jail terms, 100 probation terms and five community service terms.
Source: Ontario Newsroom