RCMP make huge illicit tobacco bust in Calgary
Lloydminster RCMP have seized a huge shipment of illegal cigarettes, stopping a semi-truck that was carrying millions of unstamped tobacco products.
Lloydminster RCMP have seized a huge shipment of illegal cigarettes, stopping a semi-truck that was carrying millions of unstamped tobacco products.
The driver, a 62-year-old man from Calgary, is now facing serious charges.
The police stopped the semi-truck on February 22, 2026, on 44 Street because the driver didn’t have the right paperwork.
Officers discovered 24 pallets filled with unstamped cigarettes inside the trailer upon inspection.
The RCMP has estimated the seized trailer contained approximately 48,000 cartons of illicit tobacco, totaling a massive 7.2 million individual cigarettes. This seizure, with a street value exceeding $6 million, is significant as it prevented the evasion of over $2 million in tax revenue.
The driver, Mubarak Khan, was arrested at the scene.
He is charged with fraud over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime, and unlawfully possessing tobacco.
Khan is currently in police custody and has Lloydminster Provincial Court appearance scheduled on March 3, 2026.
As part of their investigation, police seized the semi-truck, its trailer and the illicit cargo.
This major seizure is a significant setback for illicit tobacco operations, according to Lloydminster RCMP Sgt. Christopher Byford.
“This seizure represents another significant disruption to illegal tobacco contraband,” Sgt. Byford said.
“Criminal activity undermines legitimate businesses and is often linked to organized crime. Lloydminster RCMP work with provincial and federal partners to combat contraband trafficking and other crime.”
He stressed that criminal activity like this harms legal businesses and is often connected to organized crime.
The RCMP is asking anyone with information about criminal activity to contact the Lloydminster detachment or make an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers.