RCMP Bust Alleged Cigarette Ring

Source from:  winnipegsun.com By CHRIS KITCHING, SUN MEDIA 01/16/2008

RCMP have arrested 12 people and dismantled a ring that allegedly smuggled illegal cigarettes into Manitoba from Eastern Canada. Police seized 1.5 million cigarettes, more than $50,000 in cash, and eight vehicles and one horse trailer used to transport the smokes. RCMP said the 1.5 million illegal cigarettes would have resulted in a loss of $427,500 in lost tax revenue to the federal and provincial governments. The suspects allegedly sold the cigarettes in Winnipeg and surrounding communities. The 14-month investigation was called Project Deliverance. RCMP have charged the following people under the Excise Act: David Errol McKinley, 59, of Gladstone, Paulo Jeorge Cabral, 40, of Winnipeg, Jose Joaquin Periera, 49, of Winnipeg, Jose Antonio Figueirido, 57, of Winnipeg, Gary Wishnowski, 47, of Oakbank, Randy Kenneth Wishnowski, 45, of Clandeboye, Glen (Tim) Cooney, 47, of Clandeboye, Shane Jonathan Hebert, 34, of Selkirk, Vitor Dasilva Mira, 36, of Winnipeg, Marco Tavares, 33, of Winnipeg, and Sylvain Gagnon, 40, of St. Jerome, Que. Paul Alan Dawson, 36, of Winnipeg also is charged under the Excise Act and drug-related offences in connection with a small marijuana grow operation that was found during a raid at a Winnipeg residence. Enditem