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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, Ju ne 28 ,2 01 8 | 16 delmanor.com O' Canada Happy birthday Canada from all of us at Delmanor We invite you to Discover the Delmanor Difference! Call for more details. (905) 469-3232 1459 Nottinghill Gate, Oakville AyA Kitchens of oAKville 1195 north service roAdwest 905.847.1522 ayaoakville.com PERSONAL INJURY MEDICALMALPRACTICE Experienced Trial Lawyers Serving Oakville, Milton and Burlington SWLawyers.ca 1540 Cornwall Road Suite 106, Oakville905.842.3838 Anyone buying illegal tobacco products is funding organized crime. That's the message Crime Stoppers of Halton is delivering to the public through a promotional campaign to help combat the distribution of illegally manufactured ciga- rettes. The initiative is also part of a campaign by several Crime Stoppers programs to cre- ate awareness and stop the sale of contra- band tobacco products across the Greater Toronto Area. "We want people to know they are help- ing finance organized crime activity such as drug smuggling, gun running and hu- man trafficking," said Detective Constable Jodi Richmond, police co-ordinator of Hal- ton Crime Stoppers. "A lot of this criminal activity is organized by outlaw motorcycle gangs and the cost to taxpayers runs into the billions of dollars." Richmond also said an increasing num- ber of fire deaths in Ontario are now being blamed on illegal cigarettes which are made without self-extinguishing safe- guards. "So not only are people who buy contra- band cigarettes helping organized crime to thrive, but they are also putting lives at risk," she said. "It's definitely not a victim- less crime." Dave Bryans, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Convenience Stores Associa- tion said the OCSA supported the initiative. "Today we see contraband reaching epi- demic proportions at 37 per cent of all to- bacco now being untaxed and illegal with highs in northern Ontario of 65 per cent- plus. We are hoping the new PC government will work with Crime Stoppers and the Con- venience Store sector to address this issue and look for solutions to minimize the deliv- ery system in Ontario." During this campaign, which runs through June and July, Crime Stoppers of Halton will be distributing posters alerting people to the criminal enterprises they are funding and the fire risk that illegally man- ufactured cigarettes pose to the public. NEWS Crime Stoppers of Halton help combat distribution of illegal cigarettes Ontario Convenience Store Association Chief Executive Officer Dave Bryans, Crime Stoppers of Halton's Jodi Richmond, and Crime Stoppers Board Member Rod Piukkala launch a new Contraband Tobacco Awareness Program on Monday afternoon. Nikki Wesley/Metroland