The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is pleased to share a sample of April 2014 highlights from its land border crossings in Manitoba. This sampling underscores the CBSA’s commitment to keeping communities safe and ensuring our laws are respected.
Last month, CBSA officers processed 170,522 travellers in 62,704 cars and 27,683 trucks. They issued 90 work permits and three study permits, and processed 241 new immigrants. They also made 29 seizures and issued total penalties of $15,815 for failing to declare goods and smuggling contraband. At Emerson West Lynne, the busiest port in southern Manitoba, officers also denied entry to 61 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.
Boissevain
On April 11, a Manitoba man declared a commercial shipment he picked up at US$400. However, when officers inspected the trailer he was towing, they found multiple pieces of undeclared farm equipment and machinery, worth US$19,025 combined. They contacted the business owner, who admitted to undervaluing the shipment and was issued a penalty of approximately $5,200. If he had properly declared the equipment, he would have paid $1,025 in goods and services tax (GST).
On April 15, a Manitoba man driving a motorhome declared US$6,500 in purchases and multiple bottles of liquor. CBSA officers conducted a secondary examination, and the man admitted he had actually purchased the tires on the SUV he was towing in the United States. Officers also uncovered camera equipment in his motorhome, bringing the total value of undeclared purchases to more than $1,700. They issued him a penalty of $700. If the man had been truthful, he would have paid $75 in GST.
Cartwright
On April 6, a Manitoba man declared a horse at $1,650. However, officers determined the actual price was $2,200. They issued him a penalty of $300. If the traveller had been truthful, he would have paid approximately $110 in GST.
Emerson West Lynne
On April 2, a Minnesota man told officers he was travelling to visit a relative in Winnipeg. CBSA officers conducted a secondary examination of his vehicle and seized six grams of suspected hashish from a duffel bag in the back seat. They also determined the man was inadmissible to Canada due to criminality, and returned him to the United States.
On April 2, officers were processing a courier shipment declared as lava lamp parts. They opened the package and found it actually contained almost five litres of beer. Officers seized the alcohol with no terms of release.
On April 5, a Manitoba man was importing an ATV he purchased in Minnesota. He declared it at US$3,000 and presented a bill of sale. Officers determined the price was more, and the man admitted he had actually paid US$4,600. He paid a penalty of $975 before continuing into Canada. If the man had made a truthful declaration, he would have paid $250 in GST.
On April 7, a Manitoba man declared a trailer at US$10,000 and presented a bill of sale. During further questioning, though, the man admitted he had actually paid US$13,000. Officers issued him a penalty of more than $1,800. If the man had made a truthful declaration, he would have paid $725 in GST.
On April 7, a United States resident was seeking entry for a week-long snowmobiling trip in Canada. He told officers he had two drunk-driving convictions in Illinois and two assault convictions. Officers directed him back to the United States because the serious criminality made him inadmissible.
On April 7, a 23-year-old United States woman was seeking entry into Canada. Officers determined she had been convicted of shoplifting in North Dakota in October 2013. Since she had not yet completed her one-year probation sentence, she was inadmissible. Officers returned her to the United States.
On April 8, officers refused a 29-year-old Minnesota man entry for a previous drunk-driving conviction. They provided instructions to apply for a temporary resident permit. The man returned to the port on April 23 with the required documents and was granted entry into Canada.
On April 8, a commercial driver from Wyoming admitted to misdemeanor convictions, and officers determined he was also convicted of battery and therefore inadmissible to Canada. They refused him entry and returned him to the United States.
On April 8, officers refused entry to a 36-year-old commercial driver for a conviction in Minnesota of theft by swindle for writing bad cheques. Officers returned him to the United States.
On April 11, officers seized nine prohibited switchblade knives inside a ground shipment parcel. They determined the exporter had previously tried to ship the same package to Canada and had been warned before. Officers seized all of the weapons with no terms of release.
On April 12, a Manitoba couple declared a motorcycle at US$3,000 and provided a receipt. When officers questioned the woman further, she admitted she had actually paid US$5,800. They searched the vehicle and found price tags for undeclared clothing items worth almost $500. The travellers paid a $1,700 penalty; if they had been truthful, they would have paid about $350 in GST.
On April 17, two Canadian residents said they mistakenly arrived at the border while travelling to Nova Scotia. Officers conducted a secondary examination with a detector dog, and the travellers admitted they had five grams of marijuana tucked between the vehicle seats. However, officers located more suspected marijuana (for a total of 25 grams), a loaded .22-calibre round, .1 gram of suspected cocaine, and weapons – including a double-blade knife and a collapsible baton. The driver also produced .4 gram of suspected crystal meth from his pocket. The men were arrested and turned over to RCMP where they were subsequently charged.
On April 17, two Manitoba travellers were returning from Grand Forks and declared US$20 in purchases. After a search of the vehicle and further questioning from officers, the driver admitted he had also purchased a platinum ring for US$735. Officers issued him a penalty of more than $600 for failing to make an accurate declaration. If he had been truthful, he would have paid about $40 in GST.
On April 17, CBSA officers intercepted a ground shipment being imported by an Alberta man. He had declared it as artwork at US$500. However, a receipt inside listed the sale price as US$2,000. The man paid a penalty of more than $925 before officers released the shipment. If he had made an accurate declaration, he would have paid about $100 in GST.
On April 18, four Canadian residents said their GPS misdirected them to the port during a trip to Montreal. Officers conducted a secondary examination of their vehicle and uncovered a prohibited, loaded .32-calibre revolver concealed in the glove compartment. Officers also uncovered 8.5 grams of suspected marijuana in the driver’s jacket. They arrested all of the travellers and transferred them to RCMP custody where they were subsequently charged.
On April 21, a 42-year-old North Dakota man arrived at the port to inquire about possible entry into Canada. Officers determined he was criminally inadmissible because of convictions for using bad cheques and for failing to pay child support. They provided the man with information required to apply for entry and returned him to the United States.
On April 27, a Manitoba man declared a boat and trailer at US$6,500 and presented a bill of sale. After further questioning, the man eventually admitted he had paid US$7,500. Officers issued him a penalty of approximately $700. If he had been truthful, he would have paid about $350 in GST.
Lena
On April 4, three men and a woman from Manitoba declared they were bringing back no goods. During a secondary examination, officers uncovered new jackets in their vehicle that were concealed in a bag of used clothing. The officers also seized 3.5 litres of undeclared alcohol, four cartons of cigarettes, and almost one kilogram of tobacco. Officers issued the driver a penalty of about $38 for the clothing. If the travellers had declared the jackets, they would have paid $4 in GST. They were also issued a $290 conveyance penalty for the alcohol and tobacco – which were seized outright with no terms of release. However, if declared, the duties and taxes owed for the alcohol and tobacco would have been significant, as they were not entitled to a personal exemption. A traveller absent from Canada less than 48 hours can expect to pay about $90 in duties and taxes for a carton of cigarettes and about $20 per litre of alcohol.
Lyleton
On April 27, a Saskatchewan couple declared 4.5 litres of liquor, 36 cans of beer, and two cartons of cigarettes. However, officers conducted a secondary examination and uncovered another seven litres of liquor and two more cartons of cigarettes that were not declared. They seized them with no terms of release.
Tolstoi
On April 5, a Manitoba man declared a race car he was towing at US$2,000, along with two bottles of alcohol and about US$150 in other purchases. Officers uncovered a duplicate invoice in his truck for US$3,300. The man admitted he had not been truthful, and officers issued him a penalty of about $775. If he had made an accurate declaration, he would have paid $175 in GST.
On April 7, a Minnesota man was travelling to Manitoba and told officers he was bringing some of his own auto parts into the country. Officers determined he was actually importing these parts, worth US$1,975, for his friend. They issued the man a penalty of about $550 before he continued into Canada. If he had made a truthful declaration, he would have paid approximately $100 in GST.
