Canadian and US law enforcement bodies arrested more than 60 people and seized enough tobacco for at least 105 million cigarettes in a joint sweep also targeting illicit drugs and money laundering.

According to the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT), a Canadian advocacy group, authorities participating in the sweep code-named Operation Mygale seized hundreds of kilogrammes of cocaine and other drugs in addition to tobacco. "This is a massive seizure, but that only speaks to the size of the problem," said Gary Grant, an officer with the Toronto Police Service and national spokesperson for NCACT.