Description of Seizure: Ministry of Finance inspectors, in partnership with a Toronto Public Health Tobacco and Electronic Cigarette Control officer, conducted a joint inspection at a Toronto business which resulted in the seizure of 209,400 unmarked cigarettes.
| Date | Location | Seized |
| July 19, 2023 | Scarborough | 209,400 cigarettes |
Quick Facts:
- Cigarettes, sold in cartons or packages without Ontario’s yellow stamp are illegal, subject to certain exceptions.
- Cigarettes sold in clear plastic bags are illegal, as is engaging in the tobacco business without the required permits.
- In addition to court-imposed fines for contraventions of the Tobacco Tax Act, convicted individuals and businesses are required to pay civil penalties.
- Since January 2020, Ontario recorded 289 Tobacco Tax Act convictions yielding fines of more than $2.0 million, 24 jail terms, 47 probation terms, and four community service terms.
- The Ministry of Finance offers local law enforcement agencies a grant program to support tobacco investigations within their jurisdiction. Contact TEGP@ontario.ca for more information.