The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is pleased to share a sample of January 2015 highlights from the border crossings in southern Manitoba. This sampling underscores the CBSA’s commitment to protecting Canada’s security and prosperity.
In January, officers in southern Manitoba made several seizures of pepper spray, which is considered a prohibited weapon in Canada. On January 4, Emerson officers seized three cans of pepper spray from a U.S. woman en route to Alaska. She was issued a $1,500 penalty and allowed to continue north. On January 20, Emerson officers seized another can of pepper spray from a U.S. commercial truck driver. He was issued a $500 penalty and allowed to continue into Canada to complete his delivery.
A number of drug seizures were made in January. The most significant was at Boissevain, where officers seized 52 grams of marijuana from a California woman travelling on January 28, as well as an undeclared can of pepper spray. She was issued a penalty of $1,050 for the two seized items and returned to the U.S. On January 13, Winkler officers seized three grams of marijuana and one gram of suspected methamphetamine from a U.S. commercial truck driver concealed in a cigarette package. Local authorities charged the man under the Controlled Drug and Substance Act. He was released under promise to appear in provincial court at a later date. If convicted, the man would be inadmissible to Canada for criminality. Emerson officers seized 1.6 grams of suspected marijuana from an Alberta man on January 18. The drugs were seized and he was allowed to continue on his journey after examination.
On January 24, Coulter officers seized an undeclared .22 long rifle from a U.S. man travelling to Winnipeg for the weekend. Since the rifle was a non-restricted firearm, it could be returned upon payment of a penalty. The man paid a minimal fine as the firearm was also disassembled at the time, and officers believed his genuinely surprised reaction when the gun was found in the stock of his truck box. The man opted to have the firearm held (up to 40 days) by the CBSA.
On January 25, Boissevain officers intercepted a returning Canadian wanted on a Manitoba-wide warrant for an outstanding sexual assault charge and failure to appear. The man was taken into custody and turned over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). On the same day, Emerson officers arrested a Manitoba man for driving while under the influence of alcohol. The man had denied drinking any alcohol since Christmas; however, officers smelled alcohol on him and performed a test with an approved screening device which confirmed his blood alcohol content was over the legal limit. The man was turned over to the local RCMP.
