Kingston Police seized more than $95,000 worth of illegal tobacco and nicotine products after executing a search warrant at a downtown storefront on March 26, 2026. The operation took place at Kanyen’kehá:ka Tobacco Trade Co., located at 32 Montreal Street, following a complaint from Southeast Public Health.
During the search, officers recovered a large quantity of unauthorized goods, including 575 tins of ZYN nicotine pouches. According to Health Canada, these pouches are not authorized for sale in the country. Currently, the only nicotine pouch approved for the Canadian market is Zonnic, manufactured by Imperial Tobacco Canada, which is limited to 4 mg of nicotine and restricted to pharmacy sales.
In addition to the pouches, the Kingston Police Special Services Branch seized 410 individual packages of cigarettes, 272 cartons of cigarettes, 575 tins of ZYN nicotine pouches, 28 containers of loose-leaf tobacco, 301 containers of liquid nicotine, 303 vaping devices, 81 packages of Backwoods cigars, 25 cartons of small cigars, and 25 tins of nicotine gum.
A 29-year-old man from Deseronto, Ontario, who was identified as the business owner, has been charged under Section 121.1(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada. This law prohibits the sale or possession of tobacco products that do not carry the required tax stamps. The accused has been released from custody and will appear in court at a later date.
Police noted that the investigation remains ongoing. The seizure highlights a broader issue in the province, where illegal tobacco makes up more than 50 percent of the market, leading to significant losses in tax revenue.
