The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) and Montreal police carried out several raids Wednesday in the Montreal area as part of a cross-border tobacco smuggling investigation.

Sgt. Valérie Beauchamp with the SQ said multiple raids were carried out as part of an ongoing investigation that began in the fall of 2021 targeting suppliers of illegal cigarette manufacturers smuggling tobacco into Canada from the United States.

Eight men from Ontario, all in their 30s, were arrested and charged. They are expected to appear at a Longueuil courthouse Wednesday afternoon.

More details from Wednesday’s operation are expected later in the evening, Beauchamp said.

The smuggling of illegal tobacco and contraband is a widespread issue that has been constant, she added.

On Tuesday, two men, ages 76 and 45, were

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