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The cautionary tale of the $600 blender

NEWS RELEASE CANADA BORDER SERVICES AGENCY ************************* 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'

NEWS RELEASE

CANADA BORDER SERVICES AGENCY

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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 who ensure that the people, goods and conveyances entering Canada meet all requirements and are compliant with Canadian law.

In December 2014, CBSA officers at the Sault Ste. Marie port of entry (POE) processed 92,540 travellers in 62,263 vehicles, which represents a 12-percent decrease in travellers and a 10-percent decrease in vehicles from December 2013. More than 392 international travellers entered by bus.

Immigration highlights

In December, officers at the Sault Ste. Marie POE conducted more than 164 immigration interviews resulting in 13 Visitor Records, and three Temporary Resident Permits and in seven cases, individuals decided to voluntarily withdraw their applications to enter Canada.

On December 5, a male U.S. resident arrived at the Sault Ste. Marie POE seeking entry to Canada.

The traveller was referred for a secondary immigration examination.

During the interview, officers discovered that the traveller had been convicted of domestic violence in the United States.

Due to his conviction, the traveller was found to be inadmissible to Canada due to his serious criminality.

Officers advised the traveller that he needed to obtain a Temporary Resident Permit from a Canadian Consulate in the United States before being allowed to enter Canada.

The traveller was returned to the United States.

On December 22, a male U.S. resident coming to Canada to visit for the holidays was referred for an immigration examination.

During the interview, officers discovered that he had been referred for an immigration examination in the past and that he had been convicted of driving under the influence in the United States twice.

The traveller had applied for criminal rehabilitation, but was denied because he failed to include a third driving under the influence conviction in the United States.

The traveller was advised to complete the form correctly and to include every criminal act he had ever been convicted of or charged with and to resubmit it to the Canadian Consulate.

The traveller was inadmissible to Canada and returned to the United States.

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 at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2012/ob389.asp.

Customs highlights

In December, CBSA officers conducted approximately 3,574 secondary examinations for customs purposes or on behalf of other government departments, initiated 10 seizure actions and issued additional written warnings for undeclared or undervalued goods.

On December 22, three Canadian residents arrived at the Sault Ste. Marie POE and declared that they had purchased US$130 in miscellaneous items and 12 beers between the three of them.

The vehicle was referred for a secondary examination.

During the exam, officers discovered a blender in the back seat of the vehicle belonging to one of the passengers, worth $622 which had not been declared.

The blender was seized for non-report and was released back to the traveller upon payment of a $373.20 penalty.

Had the traveller declared the blender, he would have paid approximately $80 in taxes.

On December 22, two Canadian residents arrived at the Sault Ste. Marie POE.

The driver declared that they were absent for nine hours and had purchased US$60 in sporting equipment and US$90 worth of goods from a department store.

The vehicle was referred for a secondary examination.

During the exam, officers discovered undeclared toys and clothing totalling $300.02.

The goods were seized for non-report and were released back to the driver upon payment of a penalty of $195.54.

The traveller happened to have been at an interview in the U.S. to renew his NEXUS membership earlier that day.

The officers reported the seizure to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (U.S. CBP), as the NEXUS program is a trusted traveller program.

As a result, the U.S. CBP stated that the traveller’s NEXUS card would be cancelled.

Had the goods been properly declared, the individual would have paid approximately $39 in taxes.

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.

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