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Thirty-eight pounds of illegal grass and 170 cartons of unstamped smokes seized

Forty-eight-year-old Athabasca man now faces a handful of charges
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Athabasca RCMP display the 38-pounds of illicit cannabis and 170 cartons of unstamped tobacco products they seized in a Jan. 10 raid on an Athabasca home. A 48-year-old man, who police have not named, is slated to appear in Athabasca Provincial Court March 13 to face several charges.

WESTLOCK – A 48-year-old Athabasca man faces a handful of charges after police say they found roughly $45,000 worth of illegal weed and unstamped smokes in his home.

According to a Feb. 6 RCMP news release, Athabasca RCMP executed a search warrant Jan. 10 on a residence in Athabasca where they found approximately 38-pounds of illicit cannabis and 170 cartons of unstamped tobacco products. Subsequently, a 48-year-old Athabasca man, who police have declined to name, faces several charges including distribution of illicit cannabis and the selling of tobacco products under the Criminal Code, Section 121.1(1), that: “No person shall sell, offer for sale, transport, deliver, distribute or have in their possession for the purpose of sale a tobacco product, or raw leaf tobacco that is not packaged, unless it is stamped.”

In a follow-up interview, Athabasca RCMP Const. Kyle Hotchkiss said the seized cigarettes have an estimated street value of $25,000, while the illicit cannabis is worth $20,000.

Following the arrest, the man was held briefly in police custody before being released under several conditions and is scheduled to make his first appearance in Athabasca Provincial Court March 13.

George Blais, TownandCountryToday.com

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