On the evening of Feb. 13, Manitoba Finance’s Taxation Special Investigations Unit, along with the Winnipeg Police Service, completed an investigation into the sale of contraband cigarettes at multiple retail locations in Winnipeg. Investigators seized 2,050,300 cigarettes not marked for Manitoba Tax purposes.  This was a potential tax loss of $615,090 for the province and is the largest single seizure in the history of the Special Investigation’s Unit.  Along with the cigarettes, the seizure included $93,230 in cash and two motor vehicles. Three Winnipeg residents including two adult males and an adult female now face a variety of charges under Manitoba’s Tobacco Tax Act and Tax Administration and Miscellaneous Taxes Act (TAMTA).  For a first-time offence under the provincial tax acts, individuals face fines between $1,000 and $10,000 and/or up to six months imprisonment as well as a potential triple tax penalty.  Two of accused have prior convictions, so they face more stringent penalties under TAMTA including fines between $10,000 and $50,000 and/or up to one-year imprisonment, suspensions of their driver licenses as well as a potential quadruple tax penalty of $2,460,360.  The accused will also face charges under the Criminal Code of Canada. The province urges anyone who has information on contraband tobacco to contact their local police department, call the Manitoba Finance Special Investigations Unit at 204-945-1137, email smuggling_manitoba@rcmp-grc.gc.ca or call Manitoba Crime Stoppers (toll-free) at1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release At 0800 hrs, police were notified that a male had attended to the Brandon Regional Health Centre (BRHC) with a gunshot wound to his upper body. Investigation revealed that the discharge had taken place at a residence in the 300 block of 6th street approximately 1 hour prior to the male victim attending the BRHC. Several schools in the area were notified of the investigation and were asked to secure and hold the students inside until investigators had released the scene. The victim was treated and released from hospital with minor injuries. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the discharge are still ongoing.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release At 2330 hrs, police attended to a residence in the 2100 block of McDonald Ave to take a report of a robbery that had occurred the previous night in the 1300 block of Rosser Ave. The female victim was putting her belongings into her vehicle when she was jumped by two unknown females. The two suspects stole her cell phone and proceeded to assault her. The suspects left the scene after a bystander intervened.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release At 5 am, Sunday morning, police were called to a local hotel for a disturbance. Two males had been causing issues inside the hotel and were being escorted out of the hotel by security when they assaulted the security officer. A 19-year-old male and a 20-year-old male, both from Brookdale, Manitoba were arrested by police and lodged at BCC. They will both be released later Sunday to appear in court in April. The security officer did not require medical attention as a result of the assault.

Source:Brandon Police Service Media Release At 5:30 am Saturday morning, police attended a residence in the 300 block of 2nd street or a male reportedly stabbed in the abdomen. The male was transported to BRHC with a non-life-threatening injury. The victim was highly intoxicated and not able to provide details of the assault however, police are currently seeking a female suspect for the assault. As of the time of this report, no arrest has been made. Police are investigating.