Chi San Kong, Cheng Zhano, Jian Hui Tan 4,800 cartons of illegal cigarettes, many packaged in counterfeit red du Maurier cartons and packages.

4,800 cartons of illegal cigarettes, many packaged in counterfeit red du Maurier cartons and packages. "Sophisticated," is the word investigators used to describe the operation. But finding this hidden shipment was just the start of the investigation. The officers put everything back in place, sealed up the container and on it went -- woks, dishes and illegal smokes -- by train to Toronto. The RCMP was contacted, search warrants were applied for and the sting was on. When five people arrived at the Toronto CN Rail yard last week to pick up the woks and dishes, they were surprised at who greeted them. "They usually are," Sgt. Susan Riddell said. "These are serious charges." Chi San Kong, 43, Cheng Zhano, Jian Hui Tan, 33, Jin Chang Haung, 45, and Hak Hang Lam, 39, are to appear in court May 30, all charged with unlawful possession of tobacco products. The street value of the score would have been $345,600, resulting in a loss of "$212,000 in duties and taxes" for the federal and provincial governments. But it's just a small dent in a major criminal enterprise involving smuggled cigarettes," RCMP Staff-Sgt. John Morton said. Industry experts figure almost one in every three cigarettes smoked in Ontario is contraband. Morton said he's not sure of the number but thinks it's a "significant problem." One way to snuff out the problem is by educating the public and encouraging them not to buy the smokes, Morton said.