Undervaluing goods at border costs owners bigtime

NEWS RELEASE

CANADA BORDER SERVICES AGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

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Sault Ste. Marie port of entry monthly enforcement highlights
 
SAULT STE. MARIE, ON (November 20, 2012) - The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) facilitates the entry of legitimate travellers and goods, while protecting the safety and security of Canadians and ensuring that Canada's border is not used for illegal activity.

This work is carried out by CBSA border services officers (BSOs) who ensure that the people, goods and conveyances that enter Canada meet all requirements and are compliant with Canadian law.
 
In September and October 2012, CBSA officers at the Sault Ste. Marie port of entry (POE) processed 254,071 travellers in 164,039 vehicles, and more than 9,600 commercial drivers.

The POE also processed more than 1,770 international travellers by bus.
 
Immigration highlights from the Sault Ste. Marie POE
 
In September and October, officers at the Sault Ste. Marie POE conducted more than 1,136 immigration interviews resulting in the issuance of 39 visitor records, 32 work permits, five study permits and five confirmations of permanent residency.

During these interviews, officers found that 44 travellers had various admissibility issues, of which 35 were given the option of voluntarily withdrawing their applications to enter Canada.

The other nine were allowed entry on temporary visitor permits.
 
On September 15, a U.S. resident arrived at the Sault Ste. Marie POE seeking entry to Canada.

Routine background checks indicated that the individual had recently been denied entry on two previous occasions.

He was first deemed inadmissible to Canada in Windsor, Ontario, in August 2012, for attempting to move to Canada without the proper documentation and for having criminal convictions in the United States.

Officers counselled the individual on how to overcome his inadmissibility and he returned to the United States.

The following day, the traveller went to Niagara Falls, Ontario, and once again attempted to enter Canada and was again advised that he was inadmissible due to his criminality.

Officers counselled him on the steps required to overcome his inadmissibility.

When the traveller arrived at the Sault Ste. Marie POE, he had not completed the steps required to overcome his inadmissibility.

He was once again deemed inadmissible to Canada and returned to the United States.
 
On September 21, a U.S. resident was referred to an immigration examination for employment purposes.

After the individual denied any previous criminality, officers completed a criminal background search and discovered that he had been convicted of several crimes such as two counts of driving under the influence, theft and public intoxication, carrying a concealed weapon and aggravated assault.

Deemed inadmissible to Canada due to his criminality, he was counselled on the steps required to overcome his inadmissibility.

He then returned to the United States.

On October 27, a U.S. resident was referred to an immigration examination.

After completing a background check, officers discovered that the traveller had been convicted of committing fraudulent activities in the United States.

She was counselled on the steps required to overcome her criminal inadmissibility and she returned to the United States.
 
Customs highlights from the Sault Ste. Marie POE
 
In September and October, CBSA officers conducted approximately 9,102 secondary examinations for customs purposes or on behalf of other government departments, initiated 22 seizure actions for various offences, three commercial seizure actions, one arrest for an outstanding warrant and issued additional written warnings for undeclared or undervalued goods.

On September 14, U.S. Customs and Border Protection refused entry to a Canadian resident due to an outstanding warrant for her arrest.

Upon her re-entry to Canada, CBSA officers executed the warrant by placing the individual under arrest and turned her over to the custody of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service who had issued the warrant.
 
On September 17, a returning Canadian resident declared an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) purchased in the United States for US$1,000.

When officers questioned the individual on the value of the ATV, he admitted to paying US$1,800.

The ATV was seized for undervaluation and released back to the traveller upon payment of a $427.24 penalty.

Had the traveller given a true and accurate value for the goods declared upon re-entry into Canada, he would have paid approximately $144 in taxes.
 
On October 11, a returning Canadian resident declared a Corvette at US$5,500.

After contacting the seller and interviewing the traveller further, officers discovered that the actual amount paid for the Corvette was US$8,250.

The vehicle was seized for undervaluation and released back to the traveller upon payment of a $1,480.26 penalty.

Had the full value been truthfully declared, he would have paid approximately $495 in taxes.
 
Travel Tips
 
The CBSA reminds travellers to truthfully declare all purchases and goods received outside of Canada upon their return.

Smuggling, undervaluation and other Customs Act offences may lead to seizure and/or prosecution in a court of law.
 
Certain foreign nationals who do not meet the requirements to overcome their criminal inadmissibility may be allowed to enter Canada with a one-time only, fee-exempt temporary resident permit.

For more information, please visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.

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