At Manitoba’s land border crossings this past October, there were 160,000 people processed for entry into Canada travelling in 66,000 vehicles, as well as 23,000 commercial trucks processed importing 63,000 shipments. Officers finalized 153 permanent resident applications and issued 89 work permits and six study permits. Finally, 80 people were refused entry, mainly for previous criminal history.
At Emerson, the province’s largest border crossing, there were 82,000 people processed for entry into Canada travelling in 23,000 vehicles; there were also 15,000 commercial trucks processed importing 61,000 shipments.
CBSA officers are vigilant when screening travellers for entry into Canada. In October, CBSA officers intercepted two drivers who appeared intoxicated. On October 9 at Windygates and October 28 at Sprague, CBSA officers requested a breath samples, both of which resulted in a fail. The travellers were arrested for operating a motor vehicle with more than 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, and were each turned over to the RCMP for further processing.
Here are a few events from Emerson and select border crossings in Manitoba last month:
Emerson
On October 2, a 54-year-old West Virginia resident travelling to Alaska declared five firearms and 400 rounds of ammunition. Officers conducted a secondary exam of the vehicle and trailer and found a magazine pouch with three loaded overcapacity magazines, two additional rifles, and one switchblade knife that had not be declared. The goods were seized with no terms of release and the man was issued a $1,000 penalty.
On October 7, CBSA officers arrested a woman who was wanted on an outstanding Canadian warrant for fraud over $5,000. She was turned over to RCMP.
On October 15, CBSA officers seized a prohibited weapon from a Winnipeg woman. During a search of the vehicle and its contents, officers found what appeared to be a cell phone, but noted some irregularities and determined the cell phone was actually a taser which is a prohibited weapon. It was seized and the woman was counselled on the importation of prohibited weapons. She was issued a $500 penalty.
On October 16, a 21-year-old Winnipeg resident was attempting to import a 12-week old puppy which he declared at $500. The officer noted anomalies with the bill of sale and conducted further checks and determined the actual purchase price was $1,500. The man was issued a $538 penalty; an accurate declaration would have netted $180 in GST and PST.
On October 18, Detector Dog Zoe and her handler assisted in locating a restricted .22 calibre revolver concealed in the vehicle of a 58-year-old Missouri resident. Background checks revealed the man had been arrested in the United States for travelling with a firearm in his vehicle. He was arrested and issued a $1,000 penalty and refused entry into Canada. RCMP also attended and released the man on a “promise to appear.”
On October 20, CBSA officers encountered a traveller with 105 litres of gasoline concealed in the trunk of his sedan. The 51-year-old Winnipeg man declared $175 in purchases but failed to declare the gasoline. Officers noted the strong smell of gasoline and found five full canisters. CBSA reminds travellers to be cautious when travelling with flammable materials and ensure they are being transported in accordance Transport Canada safety requirements. It also important to make a full declaration to the CBSA regarding goods being imported into Canada – this includes fuel being imported unless already in the vehicle’s fuel tank.
Other Ports
On October 1 at the port of Gretna, a man was importing a new travel trailer declared at $21,000. During a routine examination, officers determined the man omitted more than $3,300 in additional charges. For this, he was issued a $1,814 penalty; had he included the $3,300 amount in his original declaration, he would have paid an additional $400 in GST and PST.
On October 8, officers at the port of Sprague encountered a pedestrian seeking entry into Canada. The man was referred further questioning and when CBSA officers conducted routine background checks, they learned the man was wanted for deportation from the United States and had a criminal history that included forcible confinement, terroristic threats, sexual assault, fraud and firearms offences. He was arrested and turned over to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
On October 9 at the port of Tolstoi, officers seized an undervalued ATV from a Manitoba man. He declared the ATV at $2,000, but officers were suspicious of the value, the bill of sale and the man’s overall declaration. Further checks revealed the ATV was actually purchased for $4,700. The man was issued a penalty for $1,450; he would have paid $565 in GST and PST had he made a proper declaration.
On October 10 at the port of Boissevain, a Brandon resident was issued a $1,100 penalty for attempting to smuggle a ring into Canada. During a routine exam of the vehicle officers discovered the undeclared ring valued at $3,660 which the man had concealed to avoid paying duty and taxes. Had he been truthful, he would have paid approximately $440 in GST and PST.
On October 14, at the port of Boissevain, a 44-year-old man was seeking entry to go hunting, but was refused entry as background checks revealed he had several criminal convictions for assault. As this was not his first time being refused entry into Canada, officers counselled him to obtain a temporary resident permit from the Canadian Consulate before returning to Canada.
On October 14 at the port of Lyleton, officers refused entry to a 28-year-old Wyoming resident for previous DUI conviction. The man was advised to obtain a temporary resident permit from the Canadian Consulate before returning to Canada.
On October 17 at the port of Cartwright, a 48-year-old North Dakota man was refused entry for previous criminal convictions for cocaine trafficking, assault and weapons-offences. The man had been refused entry before and was again advised to obtain a temporary resident permit from the Canadian Consulate before returning to Canada.
On October 16 at the port of Boissevain, officers enacted their emergency response skills when a small aircraft that was flying into Canada from the United States crashed on the runway. The Alberta pilot was not injured, but there was damage to the aircraft he was importing.
On October 20 at the port of Lyleton, CBSA officers encountered a 60-year-old Kansas resident who claimed to be travelling to Manitoba to purchase millions of dollars of hay for his cattle. Further questioning and examination revealed the man had $15 on him, no ATM or credit cards, and had no concrete travel plans. Officers deemed he was not a genuine visitor and refused him entry.
On October 31 at the port of South Junction, three Manitoba residents failed to declare more than $2,400 in veterinary products among their declaration of miscellaneous goods and groceries. The driver was issued a penalty of $600 – had he properly declared the goods, he would have paid $280 in GST and PST.
