The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is pleased to share a sample of February 2014 highlights from its border crossings in Manitoba. This sampling underscores the CBSA’s commitment to keeping communities safe and ensuring our laws are respected.
CBSA officers processed 113,603 travellers in 63,440 cars and 24,247 commercial trucks last month. They issued 67 work permits and four study permits and processed 237 new immigrants. They also made 12 seizures and issued total penalties of $4,000 for undeclared goods and smuggling contraband. At Emerson, the busiest port in southern Manitoba, officers also denied entry to 44 people, including travellers with serious criminality.
Here are some additional highlights demonstrating how CBSA officers in Manitoba are working to protect the safety and security of Canadians.
Emerson West Lynne
On February 7, a 34-year-old U.S. man was attempting to come to Canada. Background checks revealed that he had a previous conviction for reckless use of a firearm. He was refused entry to Canada and returned to the United States.
On February 9, a Manitoba man was importing a sports car he declared at US$2,500. Officers conducted a secondary examination of the vehicle and determined that the true price of the vehicle was US$5,200. Officers seized the vehicle and issued him a penalty of more than $1,625 for the return of the car. If the man had told the truth, he would have paid about $275 in goods and services tax (GST).
On February 11, an Ontario woman travelling from British Columbia to Ontario followed GPS directions to the port. After she asked officers for directions, the officers decided to conduct a secondary examination of her vehicle. During the examination, officers seized six garbage bags of suspected marijuana from the vehicle for a total of about 1,500 grams. The woman admitted to transporting marijuana on behalf of a third-party. Officers arrested her and issued her a penalty of more than $6,050. Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers attended the port and assumed custody of the woman.
On February 12, a Manitoba man was re-entering Canada with a commercial load. However, officers uncovered more than $650 of undeclared personal goods purchased in North Dakota inside his vehicle, including a GPS and CB radio accessories. They issued him a penalty of almost $400. If he had made a truthful declaration, he would have paid approximately $25 in GST.
On February 14, a Manitoba man was re-entering Canada with a commercial load. He declared about $57 in purchases. Officers conducted a secondary examination and uncovered a vehicle bumper inside a box behind the driver’s seat, four tires and rims on the bunk of the cab, with a combined value of more than $1,900. The man admitted to not declaring the goods, and officers issued him a penalty of about $475 and revoked his FAST card access. If he had been truthful, he would have paid about $100 in GST.
On February 18, a 29-year-old North Dakota man was refused entry when background checks revealed convictions for forgery, accomplice to burglary, possession of a controlled substance, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of marijuana, menacing domestic violence and multiple probation violations. He returned to the United States.
On February 24, a 43-year-old Tennessee man was refused entry after background check revealed convictions for domestic violence, battery and driving under the influence.
On February 28, a Saskatchewan man was returning to Canada in a commercial vehicle and failed to declare almost $1,125 in various pickup-truck accessories. Officers issued the man a penalty of more than $275. If he had made a truthful declaration, he would have paid about $50 in GST.
Boissevain
On February 4, two Manitoba men were returning from a weeklong trip and declared $560 in purchases and two litres of alcohol. Upon secondary examination, officers uncovered three bottles of undeclared alcohol (5.25 litres) in a briefcase on the backseat of their truck. The passenger admitted that it was his suitcase and that he knew what was inside. Officers seized the alcohol with no terms of release, and the travellers proceeded into Canada.
On February 15, a Manitoba man was returning to Canada in an SUV. During a secondary examination, officers uncovered multiple undeclared vehicle goods, including 13 tires, nine rims, and a snowmobile gear drive, worth a total of about $5,450. Officers issued the man a penalty of almost $1,375. If he had been truthful, he would have paid about $275 in GST.
Sprague
On February 6, two Illinois men were travelling to the Northwest Angle and declared 30 beers. Before officers began a secondary examination, the passenger told them he had not declared a bottle of vodka. During their search, officers seized the undeclared alcohol and 5.7 grams of suspected marijuana with a pipe that also belonged to the passenger They arrested the man for smuggling drugs and later released him and returned him to the United States.
South Junction
On February 21, a 40-year-old Minnesota man was coming to Canada. Background checks revealed that the man is a registered sex offender, and had two separate convictions of third‑degree criminal sexual conduct. The man was refused entry.
