The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) had a summer filled with activity across its border crossings in southern Manitoba. There was a 25-percent increase in traffic in July and August compared to last year with 468,136 travelers.
Here are some recent summer activities from the port of Emerson, Manitoba’s busiest land border crossing:
On July 1, officers examined the vehicle of a family moving to Winnipeg. Among their belongings, officers located four switchblades, one throwing star and a stun gun. All weapons were seized with no terms of release and the driver was issued a $3500 penalty.
The following day, a 53-year old Tennessee commercial truck driver advised officers that he had been arrested for driving under the influence 20 years ago. Officers conducted background checks to confirm his statement and uncovered convictions for theft, damage to property, public indecency and obstruction. He was refused entry and returned to the United States.
On August 30, a returning Canadian failed to declare 10 knives, which officers found hidden throughout his vehicle. Two of the knives were prohibited in Canada. The prohibited knives were seized with no terms of release and the man was issued a $2,500 penalty for return of his vehicle and the remaining eight undeclared knives.
Quick Facts
- There were five firearms seized in July and August 2014, which is more than double what was seized during the same period in 2013.
There were 11 prohibited weapons seized, including nine switch blades; and nine narcotics seizures, the majority of which were marijuana and hashish. - Officers issued $12,600 in penalties for various undeclared goods valued at over $48,000. The majority of these penalties were for undeclared vehicles, boats and RVs.
- CBSA officers also processed several immigration-related requests, including 393 permanent residency status, 211 work permits, and 59 study permits.
- Thorough background checks are conducted against each person entering Canada. As a result of these checks, 288 foreign nationals were refused entry for criminality or other reasons; and 5 returning Canadians were arrested or detained, including two on outstanding warrants and one for impaired driving.
