Revenu Qubec fines $2.2 million for peddling contraband cigarettes

Revenu Qubechas fined 12 people a total of $2,258,618 forselling contraband cigarettes.

Those fined including four peoplefrom the KahnawakeMohawk territoryon Montreal's South Shoreare accused of selling, delivering or possessing illegal tobacco for retail sale in Quebec.

RevenuQubecsays none of them were registered to sell tobacco with the agency.

A spokesman for the Kahnawake Mohawk Council says the council couldn't comment on the specific individuals facing fines.

However, Joe Delaronde saidthe council is working towards resolving the community's differences over tobacco sales with the Quebec ministry.

There are dozens of cigarette sales shops both in Kahnawake and its sister communitiesof Kanesatake, northwest of Montreal, and Akwesasne, which straddles the U.S.-Canada bordernear Cornwall, Ont.

Cracking down at the border

Meanwhile, the spokesman fora task force charged with clamping down on cross-border tobacco smugglingsaid there is a steady stream of contraband tobacco products still being moved across the border.

Const. Jean Juneau of the Cornwall Regional Task Forcea policing group made upof representatives of the Canadian Border Services Agency, the RCMP, the Ontario Provincial Policeand the Ontario Ministry of Financesaid the task force made fivearrestsfor smuggling illegal tobacco over the border last month alone.

Juneau because of thesize of the border, it's difficult to police effectively.

"It's just a matter of being in the right place at the right time," he said.

Those arrested last month have been charged under the federal Excise Act and are also facing charges under Ontario's Tobacco Tax Act for possession of unmarked cigarettes.

Juneau told CBC News more arrests will be announced in the coming days.