August turned out to be a busy month for officers at both the North Portal and Estevan Highway (Noonan) border crossings.
Canada Border Services officers at the Estevan Highway crossing saw 10 per cent more travellers in August over last year, and 6,532 in total. Officers in North Portal saw an increase of 16 per cent and 36,918 travellers overall.
North Portal also handled 1,342 referrals for immigration purposes, including: 138 work permits, 32 study permits, 57 permanent resident applications, seven temporary resident permits, and 93 entry refusals.
On August 6, a United States resident declared he was en route to Alberta for a vacation. CBSA officers noted inconsistencies in his declaration and found information while searching his vehicle that showed he was in fact intending to work in the paint-less dent repair field. Further checks revealed that he had been refused entry to Canada twice in the previous week. He was refused entry again.
On August 12, a commercial driver from Wyoming en route to Edmonton was refused entry for several criminal convictions, including: two DUIs; leaving scene of an accident where death/injury occurred; fraud; probation violation; driving on revoked license; and impersonation.
August 15, a US male from Missouri was seeking entry to visit his aunt and uncle in Alberta for eight weeks. During the examination, he made several conflicting statements in regards to his ties to the U.S. Through questioning and a search of his vehicle, CBSA officers determined the he was in fact coming to live with his Canadian girlfriend and work in Alberta. He was refused entry into the country.
On August 18, a Michigan male sought entry to work in Edmonton. During a secondary exam, officers found synthetic urine and traces of suspected marijuana in his vehicle. He admitted that the synthetic urine was to pass drug tests. Further background checks also revealed that he had been convicted of Criminal Negligence Causing Death. He was refused entry for criminality.
While screening goods for entry into Canada last month, CBSA officers seized more than $163,000 of non-declared and undervalued goods, firearms, weapons, etc. and assessed more than $27,500 in penalties to travellers. That brings the total this year to $709,400 in seized goods and $131,100 in penalties, for North Portal alone.
August 18, CBSA officers discovered a "non-report of goods" by a commercial carrier. The carrier had crossed the border on August 4 at North Portal with bison meat that was to be delivered to Calgary and then for export to Belgium. The in-transit goods were not declared and the carrier was issued a $4,000 penalty.
On August 3, returning Saskatchewan residents declared a fifth-wheel wheel RV at $39,000. CBSA officers conducted a secondary exam and determined the actual value was $50,700, thus undervalued by $11,700. If the importers had declared the correct value, they would have paid $580 in GST; instead the trailer was seized and the importers were issued a $6,381.65 penalty for its release.
A family from Virginia was moving to Alaska and reported several firearm barrels, August 12. Officers conducted a secondary examination using X-ray technology and located an over capacity magazine that was capable of holding 30 rounds of ammunition, which is prohibited in Canada. CBSA seized the item and issued a $500 penalty against the travelers.
At the Estevan Highway crossing August 18, two Alberta residents returned to Canada after less than a 24-hour absence and declared a 2010 travel trailer for US$14,200. However, CBSA officers determined they had been given a false receipt and the actual value was US $20,500. The trailer was seized and the importers were given a $3,614.69 penalty. The importers retrieved the trailer two days later upon payment of the penalty.
August 21, a Wisconsin resident reported to CBSA that he was going to assist a family member in Saskatchewan with the construction of a house. He stated he was on vacation and all goods would be returning with him. During an examination, CBSA officers determined the man was actually delivering the truck and tools that his relative had purchased in the U.S. He admitted to misleading CBSA in an attempt to not pay duty and taxes. The truck and tools were valued at $13,125. The goods were seized and a $3,307 penalty was assessed for the return of the items.
A Saskatchewan family was referred for secondary examination August 26 after they had declared a stun gun and a switchblade, both prohibited items in Canada. Officers conducted background checks on the parents and learned that both had outstanding warrants for their arrest for fraud over $5,000. In the vehicle, officers found more prohibited weapons including a butterfly knife, stun gun and two cans of pepper spray. They also found 12 credit cards belonging to other individuals. The pair was arrested for the outstanding warrants as well for possession of the undeclared prohibited weapons. A $2,000 penalty was assessed due to the prohibited weapons.
The Canada Border Services Agency is committed to keeping Canada?s borders safe. CBSA monitors, investigates, detains and removes those people or goods in violation of the country?s laws. If you have information about suspicious cross-border activity, please contact the Border Watch toll-free line at 1-888-502-9060. For information on CBSA, please call 1-800-461-9999.
