Tax, money laundering charges filed

SYDNEY — Two men

charged in connection with the seizure this week of 12,500 contraband cigarettes and $440,000 have been released and are scheduled to appear in provincial court in May.

Charged are Norman Mugford, 63, of East Street and Adam Christopher Mugford, 30, of Fifth Street.

Norman Mugford is charged with possession of tobacco with no tax paid, possession of tobacco with no excise markings and transporting tobacco with no bill of lading. The charges are all filed under the Revenue Act.

Both accused are also charged with possession of money, over $5,000, knowing it was obtained by crime and with laundering the proceeds of crime.

Adam Christopher Mugford is also charged with careless storage of a weapon, a Smith and Wesson handgun.

All of the offences are alleged to have occurred March 23 in Glace Bay.

The charges were filed following an investigation and seizure by members of Service Nova Scotia's Compliance and Special Investigations Unit and Cape Breton Regional Police.

Investigators from both sections searched two homes — one on East Street and the other on Fifth Street — and seized 12,500 contraband cigarettes valued at approximately $7,500. The estimated provincial tax value of the cigarettes is $3,440 and federal tax value is $1,196.

The Fifth Street address is where investigators found the cash.

As part of his release, Norman Mugford was ordered to turn over his passport to police.

Both accused are now scheduled to appear in provincial court May 23 to enter pleas.