Arrested at the border and other Canada Customs stories

NEWS RELEASE

CANADA BORDER
SERVICES AGENCY

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Sault Ste. Marie port of entry monthly enforcement highlights

SAULT STE. MARIE - 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 borders are not used for illegal activity.

This work is carried out by CBSA border services officers (BSOs) who ensure that the people, goods and conveyances entering Canada meet all requirements and are compliant with Canadian law.

In February 2013, CBSA officers at the Sault Ste. Marie port of entry (POE) processed 88,523 travellers in 59,696 vehicles, representing an 11 percent decrease in travellers and an eight percent decrease in vehicles compared to February 2012.

The POE also processed 3,131 commercial importations, representing a six percent decrease compared to the same period last year, and more than 300 international travellers by bus.

Immigration highlights

In February, CBSA officers at the Sault Ste. Marie POE conducted more than 300 immigration interviews resulting in the issuance of 15 visitor records, 24 work permits, two study permits, four Temporary Resident Permits, and nine individuals decided to voluntarily withdraw their applications to enter Canada.

On February 7, a U.S. resident was seeking entry into Canada.

The individual was referred to immigration for a secondary examination.

After completing a criminal record check, officers discovered that the individual was convicted of reckless driving, retail fraud as well as three offences of driving under the influence.

The individual was deemed inadmissible to Canada due to criminality and officers informed him that he would have to apply for criminal rehabilitation in order to enter Canada in the future.

The individual returned to the United States.

On February 9, a U.S. resident was seeking entry into Canada.

The individual was referred to immigration for further questioning and it was determined that he was in fact living in Canada and working in the United States.

The individual was advised that proper procedures must be followed.

He must prove that he has a residence in the United States, has ties to his home country and is not intending to live in Canada.

He was allowed to withdraw his application to enter Canada and was advised to come back when the requirements had been fulfilled.

Customs highlights

In February, CBSA officers conducted approximately 331 secondary examinations for customs purposes or on behalf of other government departments, initiated one seizure action, three arrests and issued additional written warnings for undeclared or undervalued goods.

On February 5, three returning Canadian residents declared US$173 in groceries.

During a secondary examination, officers found four undeclared parcels in the back seat as well as a large box in the trunk where two trumpets in cases were located.

The driver admitted that she did not declare the parcels and the two trumpets.

The total value of the undeclared goods was $290.88.

The goods were then seized for the offence of non-report and released back to the traveller after a monetary penalty of $183.20 was paid.

The driver was also a NEXUS member and due to this offence, her NEXUS card was revoked.

Had the traveller properly declared the goods, she would have paid approximately $37 in taxes and maintained her NEXUS membership.

On February 10, a returning Canadian resident was asked to provide a breath sample after an officer detected the odour of an alcoholic beverage on the driver’s breath.

The officer gave the driver three opportunities to provide a sample.

After the third attempt, the driver was arrested for failure to provide a breath sample and was handed over to the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service.

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.

All firearms and weapons must be declared to a border services officer when you enter Canada.

Failure to do so could result in them being seized, and you may face criminal charges.

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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