Ali Al-Hameedawi of Red Deer has been charged after the seizure of an estimated $4.5 million dollars of contraband tobacco.
Al-Hameedawi and Husham Hakeem of Calgary, were each charged with trafficking in contraband tobacco, contrary to section 121.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada and fraud over $5,000.
The pair is scheduled to appear in Calgary Provincial Court on Aug. 26. The Calgary Police Service and RCMP executed a search warrant in southeast Calgary to discover the contraband.
The investigation was instigated by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC) and represents one of the largest tobacco contraband seizures recorded in Alberta history. The total potential lost tax revenue is estimated to be more than $2.5 million.