Quebec police have busted a trafficking ring that they say was selling illegal cigarettes out of homes and shops and even offered a delivery service.
Police executed 25 search warrants Thursday morning in Montreal and L'Épiphanie, a small community in the Lanaudière region northeast of the city.
The Montreal police department's organized crime unit, the RCMP and the Quebec provincial police participated in the operation.
A dozen people were arrested including the distributor, said Montreal police spokesperson Simon Delorme.
By mid-morning, police were still looking for a 13th person.
Delorme said police got wind of the ring about six months ago from a member of the public who reported some suspicious behaviour.
In their investigation, said Delorme, police found a sophisticated network.
He said a supplier would sell contraband cigarettes to a single distributor who would then turn the product over to 50 resale locations including convenience stores and people's homes.
Police said the ring also offered to deliver the cigarettes to clients.
Authorities estimate that the ring was diverting $5.2 million per year in sales and tobacco taxes from the government.
Some of the suspects are expected to appear in court in Montreal on Thursday.
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