Alta. seizes millions of illegal cigarettes

About 75,000 cartons of cigarettes suspected to be contraband were seized Wednesday in central Alberta.

The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission and the RCMP said they found the 14 million cigarettes after executing a search warrant at a Quonset hut near Ponoka.

Federal customs officials are also involved in the investigation.

The cigarette packages are not marked for legal sale in the province, said Hobbema RCMP Const. Perry Cardinal.

"You're talking about $3 million in lost tax revenue to the province of Alberta," Cardinal said. "Those agencies will conduct their investigation and find a point of origin and what not of these tobacco products."

The investigation is still underway. No charges have yet been laid.