Dakota Ojibway Police Service Manitoba Finance and Winnipeg Free Press

Craig Blacksmith: As the Winnipeg Free Press reported, the two accused — smoke shop owner Craig Blacksmith and employee Tammy Walters — were arrested during a 2014 raid by RCMP on Dakota Plains near Portage la Prairie.RCMP, the Dakota Ojibway Police Service and Manitoba Finance taxation officials seized 4,800 cartons, which amounted to 951,225 cigarettes, according to Brandon Sun. More than 1,840 tins of chewing tobacco, six firearms, one vehicle and an unspecified amount of cash were also seized. The Crown insists they have jurisdiction over us even though we've stated conclusively, and provided documentation, that we've never surrendered our rights. — Craig Blacksmith Earlier this week, several Dakota First Nation members who were charged for selling contraband tobacco lost a legal bid to have the case tossed out on the grounds that their people have no official treaty with Canada, and therefore the courts have no jurisdiction. All told, finance officials calculated $292,572.68 of tax was avoided. Matthew Audi and Christopher Wilkins are both residents of Quebec and are accused of making a U-Haul delivery to the smoke shop. Two other co-accused have been charged, but they are dealing with their legal issues separately. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.