Canadian border agents seized more than $2 million in illegal cigarettes that were sent from China and labeled as “electric fans,” according to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
CBSA said the shipment was flagged for examination on Sept. 15 at the Burnaby Container Examination Facility based on information received by law enforcement from the United States and China.
The container was found to have 216 boxes packed with 19,982 cartons, containing about 4 million individual cigarettes, according to an Oct. 24 news release by CBSA.
The value of the contraband seized was more than $2.2 million, and the amount of duties and taxes evaded on the shipment was $2.5 million….