Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ontario Provincial Police, Kingston Police, New York State Police, US Border Patrol, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Metro Jeff Drug Task Force worked together to surveille an organized group smuggling untaxed cigarettes from the Town of Cape Vincent, NY to Wolfe Island, Ontario, Canada.

When a 20' boat was loaded with 3200 cartons of cigarettes and driven across the St Lawrence River to Bayfield Bay, Wolfe Island, police were waiting for them. Canadian authorities, led by the RCMP arrested 4 individuals, seized the cigarettes, seized the boat and three vehicles. A search of one of the vehicles discovered over $27,000 in Canadian currency. US authorities, led by the New York State Police arrested one subject, seized 3250 cartons of cigarettes, 3.5 grams of cocaine, 10 grams of hashish and a GMC van used to transport the cigarettes. All together the seized cigarettes are worth approximately $130,000 Canadian. The New York State Tax that was evaded was over $98,000 for the seized cigarettes.

Arrested in Cape Vincent, NY for possession of cocaine and hashish was 34 year-old, John Lee Rankin, of 46 Shadetree Cres, Nepean, Ontario, Canada.  He was arraigned in the Town of Alexandria Court and committed to Jefferson County Jail pending further Court action. Additional state and federal charges are pending.

   Arrested on Wolfe Island, Ontario were:

• Eric Stiles, 12/21/76, of 320 McLeod St, Apt 4, Ottawa, Ontario Canada
• Ali Feleh Affat, 08/19/83, of 1363 Guthrie St, Nepean, Ontario, Canada
• Andrea D'Aviero, 09/19/74, of 225 56E Av, Pointe Calumet, Quebec, Canada
• Robert St.Laurent, 04/07/61, of 44 Rue Claire 7, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada

All four of these individuals were charged Possession of Cigarettes not stamped in accordance with the Excise Act and Smuggling of Prohibited Goods in accordance with the Customs Act. Additional charges will be forthcoming.

Additional arrests are pending on both the Canadian and US sides of the border.