The Ontario government is creating a new provincial police unit aimed at cracking down on contraband tobacco.
The new team -- part of the OPP's Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau -- will be dedicated to investigating the smuggling and trafficking of contraband tobacco and to eliminating sophisticated contraband tobacco networks across Ontario.
The RCMP estimates that 175 criminal organizations are involved in contraband tobacco in Canada, and believe that many use it to finance more serious illegal activity like drug and weapon trafficking.
The new enforcement team fulfills a commitment from last spring's budget.
