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By Kenneth Cheung

BUSTED

More than 9 million illicit cigarettes seized near the Battlefords

Jan 29, 2026 | 10:46 AM

More than nine million illicit cigarettes were seized following a traffic stop on Highway 16 earlier this month.

RCMP said Saskatchewan Highway Patrol officers stopped a truck and trailer in the rural municipality of Battle River around 12:40 a.m. on Jan. 20 and discovered a large quantity of unstamped tobacco in the trailer.

A man was arrested at the scene, and Battlefords RCMP, along with Saskatchewan RCMP’s Yorkton Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Team, were called in to assist with the investigation.

Officers later seized 23 pallets of unstamped tobacco containing approximately 9.1 million illicit cigarettes following a search of the truck and trailer, RCMP said.

Police allege the driver was also breaching court-ordered release conditions that required him to remain in Ontario in connection with previous tobacco-related charges laid in that province.

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As a result of the investigation, 41-year-old Harwinder Kahlon of Brampton, Ont., has been charged with selling, transporting or possessing unstamped tobacco for the purpose of sale, possession of unstamped tobacco, possessing or transporting tobacco not marked in a prescribed manner, and failing to comply with an undertaking condition.

Kahlon appeared in North Battleford provincial court on Jan. 21 and is scheduled to appear again on Feb. 23.

cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com