Grande Prairie Rural RCMP seize illegal tobacco

Jul 9, 2025 | 1:35 PM

Grande Prairie Rural RCMP have stopped the sale of illegal tobacco after an arrest in June.

On June 18, at 3:20 am, Mounties attempted a traffic stop on a black Nissan Sentra, but it quickly fled into a residential neighbourhood in Grande Prairie.

Mounties then stopped their chase and conducted patrols in the neighbourhood instead, leading them to locate the stolen vehicle abandoned shortly after.

Officers then arrested a male walking away from the vehicle and confirmed he was the driver.

A search of the vehicle, which was reported stolen, turned up 62 cartons of illegal unstamped tobacco and $4,275 in cash.

A 37-year-old resident of Clairmont, James Surrett, had nine charges laid against him with a court date set for Monday, July 14:

Flight from police
Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
Possession of tobacco for the purpose of selling
Possession of property obtained by crime
Fraud over $5,000
Possession of a prohibited weapon
Two counts of possession of a weapon contrary to order
Possession of unstamped tobacco

by Tanner Smith