I believe the real issue with the "smuggling" is that the goods are sold
to non-residents (of the reserve) without tax, rather than being used
for their own purposes.
Martin
-----Original Message-----
From: Sandy Harris [mailto:sandyinchina@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: May 11, 2009 05:19
To: Olympus Camera Discussion
Subject: Re: [OM] Trip to Canada in June
On Fri, May 8, 2009 at 8:07 AM, John Hudson <OM4T@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> That also happens to be the biggest cross US / Canada border cigarette
> smuggling route on the map !
>
> Aren't both side of the border at that point adjoining Indian reserves
?
Yes, it is the same tribe (Mohawk, part of the Six Nations or Iroquois).
They've been "smuggling" for some time. My dad was the only cop on the
Canadian part of that reserve back during the US experiment with
prohibition. He busted plenty of Indians, and white farm boys with
rowboats. Never managed to get the big bosses, though. Those guys
founded major businesses in Toronto or Montreal; their descendants are
among Canada's most respectable families.
Is it smuggling? My understanding is that the treaty they signed when
they gave up their land makes them completely immune to that border. If
an Indian comes through customs driving a semi, the customs officer
simply does not have the right to look inside.
The treaty says Mohawks can ignore the border. Period.
Of course neither the US nor the Canadian gov't is happy with that
interpretation.
On the Canadian side, the Ontario provincial gov't bitches about
"smuggling" when Indians bring in cigarettes and do not pay provincial
taxes on them. Not sure if NY state does the same.
--
Sandy Harris,
Quanzhou, Fujian, China
--
_________________________________________________________________
Options: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/listinfo/olympus
Archives: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/private/olympus/
Themed Olympus Photo Exhibition: http://www.tope.nl/
--
_________________________________________________________________
Options: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/listinfo/olympus
Archives: http://lists.thomasclausen.net/mailman/private/olympus/
Themed Olympus Photo Exhibition: http://www.tope.nl/
|