Thousands of contraband cigarettes, cigars, cannabis & mushrooms seized from St. Paul businesses

Over 8,000 cigarettes and nearly 2,000 cigars, along with illegal cannabis and mushrooms, were seized from two businesses in St. Paul on Wednesday.

After a several month long investigation, St. Paul RCMP, with the assistance of the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Enforcement Unit (AGLC), executed two search warrants on two local businesses in St. Paul on Wednesday, June 7. 

The businesses were Fu Lum Chinese Restaurant and Wild West Exchange. 

In total, 62 illegal cartons of contraband tobacco, 162 grams of cannabis, and 66 grams of psilocybin mushrooms were seized from these properties. 

“This was a great team effort by all involved in this investigation,” said Cpl. Stephen Cunningham, St. Paul RCMP, in a press release on Friday. 

“Contraband tobacco takes revenue away from legitimate businesses and also tax revenue. When you buy contraband tobacco, you have no idea where it is manufactured or what they may contain.” 

Fu Lum Chinese Restaurant was charged under Section 4(4) Tobacco Tax Act by Possess More Than 1000 Cigarettes not marked for tax paid sale. A total of 2,347 contraband cigarettes were seized with a Provincial Tax Avoidance of $645.43 from this business. 

Meanwhile, an employee of the Wild West Exchange was charged with: 

• Illegal sale of tobacco
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking drugs
• Possession of illicit cannabis
• Distribute illicit cannabis
• Possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling
• Distribute over 30g of cannabis 

Contraband items seized include 8412 cigarettes and 1940 cigars, with a total Federal Tax Avoidance of $1736.04 and a total Provincial Tax Avoidance of $2848.80.