12 charged in contraband cigarette case

Ten men and two women are facing charges after an RCMP investigation into contraband cigarettes in P.E.I.

"There was a lengthy period of intelligence gathering," said  Sgt. Andrew Blackadar. The investigation took place during April and May in Summerside and Georgetown.

"The evidence that we had gleaned during the intelligence gathering process led us to believe that these individuals were the people that were selling and importing a lot of tobacco products into the province," said Blackadar.

Police seized 190,000 contraband cigarettes and six vehicles during what they called "Operation Lynch."

The accused people will appear in provincial court in Summerside on Dec. 15 and in Georgetown on Dec. 22.

Several other people from P.E.I. and one Quebec woman were also named as co-conspirators but have not been indicted.