ONTARIO’S Harminder Grewal, 47, of Brampton and Avikesh Sharma, 49, of Mississauga along with Johnny Gamboa, 48, of Toronto and Rinnamoon Haddad, 50, of Caledon East have been charged for various offences under the Criminal Code, the Excise Act, and the Customs Act following a joint investigation between the RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region’s Transnational Serious and Organized Crime (TSOC) team in Saskatchewan and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
Following a complex investigation, TSOC and CBSA investigators uncovered a smuggling ring which included the extended railway system. The accused are alleged to have illegally transported nearly 116,000 kg of tobacco into Canada from the United States, as well as interprovincially, between October 2020 and April 2024.
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.
Each accused also faces additional charges for their respective role in the smuggling operation.
Gamboa was charged with keeping, acquiring, disposing of goods illegally imported (raw leaf tobacco); transporting of tobacco products and raw leaf tobacco; falsifying or destroying records; false statements or evasion of duties (two counts); smuggle into Canada; keeping, acquiring, disposing of goods illegally imported; possession of property obtained by crime; and possession of property obtained from offences.
Grewal was charged with keeping, acquiring, disposing of goods illegally imported (raw leaf tobacco); transporting of tobacco products and raw leaf tobacco; falsifying or destroying records; smuggle into Canada; keeping, acquiring, disposing of goods illegally imported; and false statements or evasion of duties.
Haddad was charged with keeping, acquiring, disposing of goods illegally imported (raw leaf tobacco); transporting of tobacco products and raw leaf tobacco; falsifying or destroying records; and false statements or evasion of duties.
Sharma was charged with possession of property.
Gamboa, Grewal, Haddad, and Sharma are scheduled to appear at the Toronto Provincial Court on October 29.
