WHEREVER YOU GO ON TYENDINAGA TERRITORY ... YOU'RE BOUND TO DRIVE PAST A "SMOKE SHACK" ... WHERE YOU CAN PICK UP A BAG OF 200 NATIVE CIGARETTES FOR 12 DOLLARS.... ABOUT 70 DOLLARS CHEAPER THAN TAXED CIGARETTES

LORI AND AUDIE BRANT HAVE A SMALL STORE ON THE MOHAWK RESERVE ... WHERE THEY SELL TAX FREE NATIVE BAGS OF SMOKES FOR 9 DOLLARS A BAG.

-AUDIE AND LORI INTERVIEW ... "WE TAKE CARE OF OUR CUSTOMERS, YOU CAN SEE WHAT WE HAVE IN THE STORE, WHAT WE SELL."))

THE CHEAP SMOKES ARE A GOOD DEAL FOR SOME SMOKERS ... BUT NOT A GOOD IDEA, ACCORDING TO PUBLIC SAFETY MINISTER STOCKWELL DAY.

"THIS IS NOT A VICTIMLESS CRIME, WHEN YOU PURCHASE CIGARETTES AT THAT LOW PRICE. YOU ARE BUYING THEM ILLEGALLY, YOU ARE IN FACT SUPPORTING A HOST OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTIVE ACTIVITIES IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITIES."

THE RCMP SAYS CHEAP SMOKES MAKE MONEY FOR ORGANIZED CRIME, AND CRIMINALS USE THE PROFITS TO INVEST IN OTHER ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.

RCMP:

"DRUG TRAFFICKING, COCAINE,

MARIJUANA, FIRE ARMS SMUGGLING INTO THE COUNTRY."

SO THE RCMP WILL BE BEEFING UP ANTI-CONTRABAND UNITS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ... SHUTTING DOWN THE SHACKS AND THE BIG PRODUCTION FACILITIES.

RCMP:

"GOING AFTER A SMALL TIME PRODUCTION, A MUM AND POPS KIND OF OPERATION, MAYBE LIKE PULLING A LEAF OFF A TREE, WE ARE TRYING TO GO AFTER THE ROOT OF THE TREE AND TAKE IT OUT OF BUSINESS."

THE BRANTS SAY ONGOING PUBLICITY OVER CONTRABAND TOBACCO HAS INTIMIDATED SOME CUSTOMERS.

LORI:

"WE HAVE CUSTOMERS THAT COME IN AND TELL US THAT EVERYDAY THEY HERE SOMETHING IN THE NEWS, THE COPS ARE PULLING THEM OVER AND SEARCHING THEM, SO THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH SCARING CUSTOMERS AWAY."

AUDIE:

"WE ARE JUST A SMALL BUSINESS TRYING TO PAY THE BILLS AND WE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING ILLEGAL."

THE LOCAL HEALTH UNIT WELCOMES THE NEW STRATEGY ... SAYING IT WILL TAKE CHEAP SMOKES OUT OF THE HANDS OF MINORS.

CHERYL VIGAR:

"THE KIDS ARE CLOSE BY, THEY CAN GET TO THE RESERVE EASILY TO PICK UP THE TOBACCO TO BRING IT BACK TO OTHER KIDS, THAT'S OUR BIGGEST CONCERN."

THE MOHAWK BAND CHIEF IS UPSET WITH THE RECENT CRACKDOWN, SAYING THE TERRITORY SHOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PLANNING PROCESS.

DON MARACLE:

"RATHER THAN TO HONOUR THE DUTY TO CONSULT WITH FIRST NATIONS ON POLICY MATTERS THAT WILL ULTIMATELY EFFECT OUR COMMUNITY, AS DIRECTED BY THE SUPREME COURT OF CANADA, CANADA HAS DECIDED TO UNILATERALLY PROCEED WITH AN ENFORCEMENT APPROACH."

LAST YEAR A RECORD NUMBER OF 618-THOUSAND CARTONS OF ILLEGAL CIGARETTES WERE SEIZED BY THE MOUNTIES.

LIZ COOK, CKWS NEWSWATCH, TYENDINAGA TERRITORY.