WINNIPEG – Almost 30,000 contraband cigarettes and illegal cannabis was seized from three Winnipeg businesses, all owned and operated by the same people.

Four people now face charges and their businesses face suspension and possible revocation of their tobacco retail dealers licences. More charges are also likely to come for possessing illegal cannabis.

For a first-time offence, individuals face fines between $1,000 and $10,000 and/or up to six months imprisonment. If convicted, they are subject to a triple tax penalty. Due to a previous conviction under the aforementioned acts, one of the individuals may face a quadruple tax penalty of $33,949.