RCMP News Archives

For the Canada Border Services Agency, 2013 was a year for the record books, from the longest and busiest season at the port of Churchill, to the largest firearm seizure in history at the port of Emerson, to the longest known sentence for smuggling child pornography (2.5 years), and the deportation of notorious fugitive and kidnapper Monty Turner. Below are additional highlights the CBSA has to share from Manitoba in 2013.

Key highlights for 2013

Processing people:

• 330,000 international travellers entered Canada at Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport on 5,600 international and transborder flights.
• More than 1.9 million travellers entered Canada through 16 border crossings in 785,000 vehicles and 1,200 buses.
• 2,802 work permits were issued to temporary foreign workers – about half were issued at Emerson and half at Winnipeg James Armstrong International Airport.
• 2,129 people were landed as permanent residents, the majority of whom were processed at Emerson.
• 392 study permits were issued to students attending school or a post-secondary institution – approximately 67% were issued at Winnipeg James Armstrong International Airport.
• 36 claims for refugee protection were made, mostly at Emerson.

Enforcing our laws and protecting Canadians:

• More than 1,297 foreign nationals were refused entry into Canada.
• 61 people were arrested upon entry into Canada for outstanding warrants or customs/immigration offences – 33 of the arrests occurred at Emerson and four of the arrests involved impaired drivers.
• 270 hearings were held before the Immigration and Refugee Board, including: 216 detention reviews and 141 appeal hearings.
• 185 people were removed from Canada, 43 of whom were criminals, including fugitives Monty Turner and Jean Terese Keating. Turner was wanted in Colorado for recent kidnapping, burglary and domestic violence; Keating was wanted in Oregon for a 1997 car crash that killed a 65-year-old woman.
• 12 criminal convictions were rendered against Customs Act and Immigration and Refugee Protection Act offences, including a man who was convicted and sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for attempting to smuggle child pornography at Emerson. It is believed to be the most significant sentence in Canada for this offence under the Customs Act.
• A Winnipeg man was charged with five offences in connection with an alleged steroid importation ring.
• An Oklahoma resident was arrested in Emerson for attempting to smuggle six undeclared handguns, 10 long guns, four knives, two brass knuckles and 117 high-capacity magazines and was charged under the Customs Act. This was the largest weapons seizure in Emerson history.
• Officers arrested a woman in December at Winnipeg James Armstrong International Airport after they found stolen tablets and smart phones in her possession.
• 70 drug seizures in Manitoba, including 1,756 doses and 1,300 grams of drugs at our land borders; and 5,700 doses and 23 kilograms in Winnipeg mostly from courier parcels. The two largest seizures were seven kilograms of steroids and 123 grams of cocaine, both seized in parcels.
• 21 prohibited firearms, 18 restricted firearms, and 141 prohibited firearms parts were seized: the majority was seized at Emerson.
• 343 weapons were seized, including stun guns and knives.
• Officers made six child pornography seizures and arrests.
• Officers made six seizures of undeclared currency totaling $170,000 and issued penalties to travellers totaling $3,750. The largest single seizure entailed more than $85,000 in cash, gold and silver.

Processing goods:

• 251,000 commercial trucks entered Canada: the majority entered at Emerson.
• 1.5 million courier shipments were cleared: 1.2 million were processed in Winnipeg.
• 950,000 commercial releases were cleared, including 645,000 at land border crossings.
• 3,300 freight trains entered Canada through Sprague and Emerson.
• 18 vessels and almost 600 people were processed at the port of Churchill this season, this the busiest and longest season on record.

Trade and traveller programs:

• Winnipeg is home to one of two CBSA call centres in Canada: the Border Information Service. In 2013, agents handled more than 560,000 enquiries. Queries range from traveller tips, to documents required to enter Canada, to duty rates, and import/export requirements.
• 415 verifications were completed by the CBSA’s trade compliance officers in Calgary and Winnipeg which resulted in more than $1.9 million in additional duties and taxes owed to the Crown and approximately $20,000 in penalties assessed to importers.
• CBSA trade compliance officers in Winnipeg also reviewed 247 claims from importers who had subsequently exported their goods from Canada and applied for a refund of duties totalling more than $7 million. As a result of the reviews, CBSA officers assessed payments of $5 million, thereby incurring a savings of more than $2 million to the Crown.
• The CBSA Casual Refund Centre in Winnipeg opened 5,404 claims last year for an average of 450 per month. It averaged 16 days to close a file, almost half of the national service standard. Casual Refund Centres are authorized to refund duties, taxes, GST or HST, as applicable.
• NEXUS is an increasingly popular program for travellers. In 2013, more than 8,000 people entered Canada using their NEXUS card at the Winnipeg International Airport and more than 2,200 people finalized their enrollment in Winnipeg. That’s an average of 183 people per month!

Going above and beyond:

• In August, officers at Emerson rushed to the scene after a car and a tractor trailer collided just north of the port. Five people, including three children were travelling in the car. Officers called 9-1-1 and remained with the family until help arrived and controlled the accident scene. Thankfully, there were no serious injuries.
• In June, CBSA celebrated the achievements of their colleagues. One officer received a Public Service Award of Excellence in the Innovation category for her work to adapt immigrant and refugee policies to the Balanced Refugee Reform Act and Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act. A second investigator received the Canada Border Services Agency President’s Award for his work on the Bradley Jacobson file.
• In July, CBSA officers said farewell to two long-time officers and colleagues who retired after 37 years and 38 years of public service!
• In June, CBSA officers at Emerson questioned a commercial driver who was travelling with his two daughters. Further investigation revealed the man did not have permission to bring the children outside their city let alone the country. While there were no warrants for the man’s arrest, officers convinced the man to wait for child services to arrive at the port. In the end, the children were returned home safely.
• In May, officers at Winnipeg International Airport sprang into action when a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong was diverted to Winnipeg for an emergency landing. Officers processed 277 passengers and crew for entry into Canada and all continued their journey safely hours later.
• CBSA officers also raised thousands of dollars for local charities, including local food banks and Child Find and Our Missing Children Society.
• CBSA Ceremonial Units attended several special events in the community, including Remembrance Day ceremonies.
• A Winnipeg CBSA officer was recognized as a recipient of the STARS award, presented by the Canadian Society of Customs Brokers. The award is given to those who do their job with knowledge and goodwill and make a positive difference to the trade community every day.