There are currently 46 tobacco manufacturing licences issued in Canada, including 14 tobacco licences on First Nations reserves.

Who holds those licences?

That's a secret, says the Canada Revenue Agency.

The agency, which oversees tobacco licensing, says the public isn't allowed to know the identity of licence holders because of confidentiality provisions in Canada's Excise Act.

In fact, one police source said even the RCMP can't obtain information from the revenue agency about the identity of legal holders of tobacco licences.

It raises a simple question: How can law enforcement agencies properly investigate the issue of illegal cigarette manufacturing without knowing who is a legal manufacturer?

"That's a piece of public policy that maybe has to be revisited at some point," admitted Inspector Derek Simmonds, director of the RCMP's Customs and Excise branch.

The RCMP says it's not aware of any licensed tobacco manufacturers at Six Nations other than Grand River Enterprises.

But a spokesperson for Six Nations Police said he believes there is at least one other licensed manufacturer at Six Nations.

"At one time, there were three licensed manufacturers," said Deputy Chief Rocky Smith. "But I don't know if those licences are still valid."

The Canada Revenue Agency refused to provide any information to The Spectator about the number of licensed tobacco manufacturers at Six Nations or the identities of the licence holders.