Via a media bulletin issued by the Province this morning it’s been learned that Manitoba Finance’s Taxation Special Investigations Unit seized 68,150 contraband cigarettes in executing a search warrant in Brandon last Wednesday. The total value in tax revenue of the alleged illegal tobacco product would have been $20,104.25.
According to the notice a 37-year old woman now faces charges after being found in possession of product not marked for Manitoba tax purposes. Penalty for a first time offence is said to be six months imprisonment and/or a fine of $1000-$10000. If convicted, the penalty would equal triple the amount of would-be tax lost or $60,132.75.
The Tobacco Tax Act permits a person to have at most one carton of cigarettes (200), 200 grams of fine cut tobacco and 50 cigars or cigarillos not marked or stamped for sale in Manitoba when entering the Province. Amounts over and above that are subject to taxation.
The full notice can be read at:
https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?archive=&item=45284
The Province has more information published on Tobacco Tax in Manitoba including the full Tobacco Tax Act at https://www.gov.mb.ca/finance/taxation/taxes/tobacco.html