Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers were kept busy in June processing approximately 179,500 travellers in more than 71,000 cars and approximately 22,500 commercial trucks. 174 people were issued permanent residency status, while 114 people were refused entry for various reasons, including criminality. Officers also issued 264 work permits and seven study permits.
The major highlight this month was at the port of Emerson West Lynne, where officers made the largest firearms seizure in Manitoba history. On June 26, two United States residents were seeking entry into Canada. The driver declared 10 long guns, but during a secondary examination, CBSA officers uncovered another 10 long arms, six handguns, four knives, two pairs of brass knuckles, and 117 overcapacity magazines. They arrested Oklahoma resident Christopher Doyle Sanders, who now faces numerous charges under the Customs Act and Criminal Code. He will appear again in Winnipeg Provincial Court on July 23, 2013.
Following are more highlights from ports across southern Manitoba:
Emerson West Lynne
On June 2, a 58-year-old Manitoba woman declared a 10-month-old cat at US$200, but said she did not have a bill of sale or invoice. The CBSA contacted the breeder who advised the woman actually paid US$1,300 plus US$200 shipping for the cat. When officers asked her again, the woman admitted she had paid $1,500. The woman was issued a penalty of nearly $750. Had she been truthful, she would have paid approximately $75 in GST.
On June 6, a 49-year-old Manitoba man declared US$10 in purchases after returning from a day trip. During secondary examination, officers noticed a strong chemical odour coming from a backpack on the floor beneath the back seats of the vehicle. They officers found aerosol paint sprayer parts, which the man claimed had been shipped to his house. He later admitted he had picked them up in the United States. The sprayer-parts were seized along with miscellaneous undeclared goods from the glove box. The total value of undeclared goods was more than US$1,000, plus a pack of cigarettes. The man claimed he was not required to declare personal goods, and said he had thrown out the packaging and invoices. He was issued a penalty of more than $700. Had he declared the goods, the man would have paid a little more than $50 in GST.
On June 8, a 42-year-old U.S. resident visiting Manitoba was refused entry for serious criminality. Officers determined the man had a criminal record for burglary, theft, and DUI. They explained how the man could acquire the proper documentation to enter Canada in the future, and the man returned to the United States.
On June 11, a 56-year-old Colorado man attempted to enter Canada for a two-week trip in northern Ontario. He admitted to one fireworks-related offence, but officers found he had been convicted with theft, battery/bodily harm, and public peace offence. He was refused entry and returned to the United States.
On June 12, a 46-year-old U.S. resident sought entry to Canada. During routine background checks, CBSA officers discovered the man had a serious criminal record which included three criminal convictions for sexual battery. He was refused entry and returned to the United States.
On June 15, a 56-year-old Tennessee man was coming to work as a construction supervisor. At first, he stated to officers that he had no criminal record, but later admitted to a drunk-driving conviction 30 years ago. Further background checks revealed the man had 15 criminal convictions in the United States, including forgery, kidnapping, and larceny over $10,000. He was refused entry and returned to the United States and apologized to the CBSA officer for “wasting your time.”
On June 17, a 27-year-old male commercial driver told officers he had an assault charge that had been dismissed. However, officers also found the man was wanted in Virginia for fraud by obtaining money under false pretences. He was refused entry, and turned over to U.S. authorities.
On June 21, a 43-year-old Iowa man coming to Canada told officers he had been arrested previously, but could not remember the charge. Officers determined the charge was assault causing bodily injury, which made him inadmissible. He was refused entry and returned to the United States.
On June 22, a 59-year-old Manitoba man declared a car at approximately $11,300. However, officers determined the actual price was US$22,400. When questioned further, the man claimed the seller had pressured him into providing a false receipt to save on taxes. However, the CBSA contacted the seller who was able to produce the legitimate bill of sale with the man’s signature. The man was issued a penalty of more than $7,700. If he had provided an accurate evaluation, he would have paid approximately $1,100 in GST.
On June 23, a 23-year-old Quebec man declared $200 in purchases and no firearms or weapons. During a secondary examination, officers seized a stun gun from a backpack on the front passenger seat. The driver said he did not think he needed to declare it because he carried it with him regularly. He was issued a $500 penalty, and the stun gun was seized with no terms of release.
On June 25, a chartered bus arrived at the port. Officers conducted routine checks and determined the driver, a 60-year-old Connecticut man, had a criminal record and was wanted in the state of Florida for larceny. The man was returned to United States officials. Another bus driver was deployed to the port to pilot the chartered bus into Canada.
Later that day, a commercial driver, travelling with his two minor children, was referred for a routine examination. The man explained to CBSA officers he was absent from Canada for 30 minutes to pick up a commercial load. Through questioning, officers learned that his children lived in Winnipeg with their mother and that while the father was allowed access to the children, he was not allowed to leave Winnipeg with them, let alone the country. While there was no warrant for the man’s arrest, he remained at the port with his children, at the request of CBSA, until Child and Family Services arrived at the port. The children were reunited with their mother that evening.
Tolstoi
On June 2, a 54-year-old Manitoba man declared US$1,750 in vintage snowmobile parts, plus approximately US$200 in miscellaneous goods. Many of the parts were unaccounted for in receipts, and when questioned, the man admitted that he had purchased an additional US$1,200 in parts online and had them shipped to a residence in Minnesota. The man was issued a penalty of over $500. Upon payment of the penalty, he thanked officers and told them, “I learned my lesson and it won’t happen again.” Had he been truthful, he would have paid approximately $60 in GST for the undeclared goods.
Sprague
On June 6, officers conducted a secondary examination of a van and discovered a prohibited and loaded .45-calibre pistol in a drawer underneath the passenger seat. The firearm was seized, traveller was refused entry and returned to the United States after paying a $1,000 penalty.
Boissevain
On June 8, a 47-year-old woman declared the purchase of a horse at US$3,000. The woman made conflicting statements when she told officers she brought $6,500 in cash to the United States and made an offer of $6,500, but only paid $3,000. When officers asked what happened to the rest of the money, she admitted to actually paying US$6,500 for the horse. She was issued a penalty of approximately $2,000. If she had been truthful, she would have paid approximately $325 in GST.
Gretna
On June 10, a Manitoba man and woman declared approximately $350 in jewelry brought back from a trip to India. During secondary examination, officers determined that more than 1,000 jewelry items were to be used for commercial purposes, and were undervalued by at least $700. Because they were commercial goods, a penalty under the Applied Monetary Penalty System is pending and the goods will be held pending penalty payment.
Coulter
On June 19, two Louisiana residents arrived on motorcycles and were seeking entry into Canada. A 64-year-old male declared one firearm on his person, which was a prohibited pistol. Officers then questioned the travellers, who both stated they had no other firearms. During secondary examination, officers found a handgun in each motorcycle’s compartment: The man had a prohibited 9-millimetre pistol, while a 59-year-old woman had a prohibited .25-calibre pistol. The firearms were seized, the couple was refused entry and returned to the United States after each paying a $1,000 penalty.
Reminder to summer travellers
The CBSA would also like to remind travellers that they cannot bring live bait into Canada without a permit and the importation of certain goods, including firearms, firewood and fireworks, is restricted or prohibited in Canada. To avoid the possibility of penalties, including seizure or prosecution, make sure you have the information you require before attempting to import these items into Canada.
The CBSA also reminds Manitoba residents that its Border Information Service (BIS) does not make phone calls. The CBSA has recently learned that persons purporting to be employed at the CBSA’s BIS have been calling Canadians and requesting personal information and payment over the phone. If you receive such a call, please contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre toll free at 1-888-495-8501.
