REGINA, Sask. - Four people have been charged in a cross-border tobacco smuggling operation that allegedly moved nearly 116,000 kilograms of tobacco into Canada from the United States and between provinces by rail, the RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency say.
The charges follow a multi-year joint investigation by the RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region’s Transnational Serious and Organized Crime team in Saskatchewan and the CBSA. In total, 36 charges were laid against four individuals. The accused are alleged to have illegally transported the tobacco between October 2020 and April 2024, using the extended railway system.
On September 21, 2026, the four accused were charged with conspiracy to smuggle into Canada, conspiracy to transport tobacco, conspiracy to possess raw leaf tobacco, and conspiracy to evade compliance, under the Customs Act, the Criminal Code and the Excise Act. Each accused also faces additional charges for their respective role in the operation.
The accused are Johnny Gamboa, 48, of Toronto, Ontario; Harminder Grewal, 47, of Brampton, Ontario; Rinnamoon Haddad, 50, of Caledon East, Ontario; and Avikesh Sharma, 49, of Mississauga, Ontario. The four are scheduled to appear at Toronto Provincial Court on Thursday, October 29, 2026.
These are charges, not convictions, and the allegations have not been proven in court. The investigation was supported by the RCMP Federal Policing Central Region, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Chicago High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program, the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited Police Service, and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada.
“This investigation demonstrates the critical role of strong partnerships and coordinated efforts in combatting the illegal tobacco trade,” said Chief Superintendent Brad Wirachowsky, Acting Regional Commander, RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region.
(Source: Canada Border Services Agency / RCMP news release, October 28, 2026)
