The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has seized over 15,500 kilograms of contraband tobacco at the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie.

On Jan. 22, a tractor trailer with a shipment declared as cardboard boxes was pulled over for a secondary examination.

Officers found 132 boxes of undeclared loose leaf tobacco weighing a total of 15,535 kilograms worth roughly $1.2 million.

“I am very proud of officers for their vigilance and dedication in keeping contraband tobacco out of our communities,” said Jeff Walters, Director, Fort Erie District Operations, Southern Ontario Region, Canada Border Services Agency.

The investigation is ongoing.

In 2017, the CBSA in the Southern Ontario Region seized 25,152 kg of contraband tobacco.