Left to right: Nicole Dmitrowicz and District Director Yvonne Bremault.
Recognizing our CBSA team in Manitoba
CBSA Officer Nicole Dmitrowicz was recently presented with the inaugural 2012 Regional Director General’s Award of Excellence for Service Excellence. Officer Dmitrowicz, who works at Emerson, was recognized for consistently displaying respect, consideration and professionalism that exceeded the norm in the performance of daily duties. Her positive attitude and initiative are commendable and are characteristics the CBSA holds in high regard. Congratulations!
CBSA officers in southern Manitoba processed approximately 150,000 travellers in April along with a combined total of 58,000 cars and 16,600 commercial trucks. During this period, officers issued 117 work permits and 8 study permits, finalized permanent residency documents for 195 foreign nationals, and refused entry to 70 foreign nationals for various reasons, including criminality.
The special highlight of the month occurred on April 23 at Emerson when officers went the extra mile for a lost elderly man. At around 8pm, the 90-year-old man arrived at the U.S. port of Pembina. Concerned for his well-being, U.S. officers brought him back to the Emerson office. CBSA officers were able to contact family members and made arrangements for him to wait at the port until the family could make the three to four hour drive to Emerson. CBSA officers provided him with food and beverage, as the man hadn’t eaten all day, and officers took turns chatting and visiting with the man throughout the evening until the family arrived. Kudos to our CBSA officers for their heartwarming gesture!
Here are some additional highlights from throughout southern Manitoba:
Coulter
At Coulter on April 4, CBSA officers refused entry to a 54-year-old Michigan man seeking entry to attend a business visit in Saskatchewan. Background checks revealed the man had two previous DUIs and lacked the required documentation to apply for re-entry. He returned to the U.S.
CBSA officers in Coulter denied entry on April 9 to a 39-year-old commercial driver who was delivering a load of coal to Saskatchewan. Background checks revealed several convictions for assault. The man claimed that the charges had been dropped, but was unable to provide proof of this. He was counselled to have the necessary documents with him should he attempt to re-enter Canada in the future. He returned to the U.S.
South Junction
In early April, Gergely Toth was convicted under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for Aiding and Abetting Attila JUHASZ to enter Canada unlawfully near the South Junction border crossing. Toth was fined $5,000 by a provincial court judge. Back in October 2011, an off-duty CBSA officer noted a suspicious individual near the port. The CBSA and RCMP were alerted and eventually resulted in the arrest of Toth and Juhasz, whom entered Canada illegally on foot. Cases like these demonstrate the importance of reporting suspicious cross border activity to the CBSA Border Watch Line: 1-888-502-9060.
Lena
On April 29, a Manitoba man attempted to smuggle $330 in tobacco products. During a secondary exam, the driver appeared extremely nervous – officers found 12 rolls of chewing tobacco stuffed under the passenger seat and 20 rolls stuffed under the driver’s seat, and 15 loose tins throughout the vehicle. The driver stated the tobacco was his and he was issued a $500 penalty.
Boissevain
On April 11 a British Columbia couple was returning from wintering in the U.S. and declared $1,700 in goods. When questioned about other purchases, they both declared $1,800 in new tires that were necessary to change on their motorhome. CBSA officers decided to verify their declaration and examine the motorhome. In the end CBSA officers found the following undeclared items: 15litres of wine, 57 cans of beer, 2 bottles of alcohol, two cartons of cigarettes, a GPS device, two cookware sets, all totaling $1,200 concealed throughout the motorhome. CBSA officers issued a penalty of $422. They apologized for the trouble and admitted they “won’t try smuggling anything again.” The undeclared alcohol and cigarettes were seized with no terms of release.
On April 17, a 22-year-old Manitoba truck driver was returning with a load of coal from earlier in the day and had nothing further to declare. The man was referred for a routine examination and during a search of the cab, officers found two 1.75 litre bottles of whiskey wedged between the bunk mattress and wall of truck. Additionally, behind the driver’s seat, officers found two 4 litre water jugs, which were factory labeled and looked like water, however smelled of alcohol. When questioned, the man admitted he had emptied four 1.75 litre bottles of rum and poured them into the two water jugs. In addition to the two bottles found behind the seats, the man had attempted to smuggle a total of six 1.75 litre bottles of rum.
The man stated he never attempted to smuggle and would never do it again. The alcohol was seized with no terms of release and the man was issued a $100 penalty.
On April 21, a 42-year-old Manitoba man was importing a snowmobile which he declared at $1,850 but had actually paid $2,400. The man was issued a $300 penalty but had he properly declared he would have only paid $120 in GST.
On April 22, a 59 and 60-year-old Manitoba couple were importing a vehicle declared at $10,000. CBSA officers were unable to verify their declared price so they contacted the seller who said he was asking $13,000 but sold it for $10,000 but that was in addition to the paint job and labour for $2,300. The importer admitted he did not declare the painting or labour to save on the taxes. He was issued a $1,400 penalty. Had he been truthful he would have paid $115 in GST.
Tolstoi
On April 24, a Manitoba man was importing a dirt bike which he declared at $1,800. The man presented a bill of sale and provided other documents for the bike. While completing the importation paperwork, officers asked additional questions regarding the value and the man then admitted he had actually paid $2,500 for the bike. The man was issued a $395 penalty. Had he been truthful he would have paid $125 in GST.
Winkler
On April 4, two Alberta men, aged 22 and 28, declared $600 total in goods. When asked if they had any firearms, firearm parts or ammunition, they both paused, and the passenger said to the driver “no.” During an exam of the vehicle, CBSA officers noted an ammunition reloading scale and a rifle scope. At this point, the driver provided receipts for his concealed purchases which totaled $1,100 and included: an ammunition reloader/scale for, a scope, power drills, and .308 caliber ammunition. In addition, CBSA officers conducted background checks on the men, and discovered the driver was wanted on an Alberta-wide warrant for driving while unauthorized. Since the warrant could not be extended Canada-wide, the man paid the $700 penalty for the undeclared goods and then proceeded in to Canada.
Lyleton
On April 9 a Saskatchewan couple was importing a utility ATV for $7,300. CBSA officers determined the actual purchase price was $9,500 through inconsistencies in the bill of sale and conflicting statements by the seller and buyer. They admitted they wanted to save taxes at the border. The penalty was $815. Had they been truthful they would have paid $475 in GST. They thanked CBSA for their patience and turned to each and said: “We should have this framed [pointing to the seizure receipt] to remind us to never do this again. Not a very bright move.”
On April 16, a 30-year-old Manitoba man was importing a 2011 snowmobile which he declared at $5,000 and $200 in auto parts. CBSA officers thought the price was a bit low, and asked the man what he actually paid for the snowmobile and he admitted that he paid $6,000. He was issued a $560 penalty. Had he been truthful he would have paid $300 in GST.
Gretna
On April 7, a 24-year-old told officers he was coming to visit family in Canada. However CBSA officers learned the man had attempted to enter Canada at Emerson earlier in the day and told officers he was moving back to Canada and needed to import the pick-up truck he was driving. The man returned the U.S. as his vehicle did not meet Transport Canada requirements and could not be imported. When asked if this were true, the man apologized and said he should not have tried to enter at another port. The man was issued a $1,700 penalty for failing to declare the vehicle, which was valued at $7,000. He paid the penalty and returned to the U.S.
Emerson
On April 11, a 61-year-old Texas man and his wife were coming to attend a wedding in Winnipeg, however cursory background checks revealed the man had six outstanding charges and one outstanding warrant for fraud. The man was turned over to U.S. officials and advised on proper steps to apply for re-entry in the future, when eligible.
On April 12, a 66-year-old commercial driver came to Emerson to apply for re-entry into Canada. The man stated he had been denied entry in January 2012 for his criminal convictions of forcible confinement and assault. CBSA officers explained to the man that he had to apply at a Canadian Consulate in the United States, not a land border. He returned to the U.S.
On April 14, a 24-year-old male arrived at the border with the intention of visiting with his uncle for one month. In an interview, the man admitted to a DUI and drug possession charges, however CBSA officers were also aware of a 2012 burglary conviction from California. He was refused entry and returned to the U.S.
On April 15, CBSA officers arrested a 50-year-old Manitoba on an outstanding warrant from 2006 for sexual assault. He was transferred to RCMP custody.
On April 17, two Manitoba residents, aged 66 and 71, were issued a penalty of almost $3,000 for not declaring $11,000 in goods they acquired while wintering in the United States. The driver initially declared $900 and 51 beers to officers. A secondary exam revealed 36 beer cans, and two bottles of alcohol concealed inside cases of soda pop, wrapped inside jackets, sweaters, towels, etc. Officers also found hearing aids, a set of golf clubs, a tablet, designer sunglasses, and two cartons of cigars. The couple stated they did not think they had to declare the items, despite going through significant effort to conceal them.
On April 23 two travellers were importing a horse and returning with two Canadian horses. The officers were suspicious of the declared value of the horse and questioned whether the other two horses were in fact Canadian horses. CBSA officers could not find any further information to disprove the value as well as the origin so the travellers were released. The next day, one of the two travellers returned to the port and admitted to CBSA officers he had in fact undervalued the horse that he was importing by $6,500. He also admitted to smuggling in, the two other horses in question on a previous trip. The value of those two horses was $25,000. As the man came back to the port to admit to his omissions, CBSA officers chose to waive penalty and instead assessed the taxes owed. The man thanked CBSA as he left the port.
On April 25 a 69-year-old commercial driver was refused entry for four previous burglary convictions. He returned to the U.S. and was counseled on proper procedures for re-entry in the future.
On April 26, a 60-year-old commercial driver was refused entry for assault causing bodily harm on a minor. Later that day, a 66-year-old male was refused entry for a 2009 conviction of sexual assault in the 3rd degree. Both men returned to the U.S.
On April 27, CBSA officers seized 93 bottles of alcohol from two Manitoba women, aged 41 and 38. Upon arrival at the port, the driver declared 48 – 750ml bottles of wine and $650US in purchases for herself and her two passengers. She presented a receipt for 24 bottles and various receipts which didn’t total $650. Because of the discrepancy and the conflicting statements, CBSA officers conducted a secondary examination on the vehicle. Officers found the following undeclared items: $200 from a department store, 93 bottles of wine, two bottles of alcohol and 24 bottles of beer. The women paid the taxes on the merchandise, but the alcohol was seized with no terms of release. They all stated they had originally planned on declaring all their goods, but wanted to save money on taxes.
On April 29, a 57-year-old Wisconsin man was travelling with two Canadian friends who he claimed were helping him drop his sailboat off in Manitoba and he was only staying in Canada for three days. He told CBSA officers he would transport the boat back to Wisconsin in the fall. CBSA officers explained that he would require a Temporary Admissions Permit. During this time, CBSA officers were conducting a routine exam of the boat and vehicle, when they found a bill of sale for $25,000 from the Wisconsin man to his Canadian friend. The 35-foot boat was seized and the Canadian man was issued a $10,000 penalty. Had they been truthful, the importer would have paid $1,250 in GST.
Reminder for travellers to the International Peace Garden in Boissevain
Visiting the International Peace Garden does constitute exiting Canada. When travelling to the International Peace Garden, while not mandatory, a passport is the preferred form of identification to expedite your processing when re-entering Canada.
