Approximately 173,000 people entered Canada through ports in southern Manitoba during the month of May. CBSA officers processed a total of 71,900 cars and 18,700 commercial trucks. During this period, officers at the port of Emerson issued 212 work permits and 77 study permits, finalized permanent residency documents for 211 foreign nationals, and refused entry to 97 foreign nationals for various reasons, including criminality.
Goodlands
On May 1, an Alberta couple, ages 60 and 56, arrived at the port of Boissevain in a pickup truck that displayed Colorado licence plates. They said they had been absent from Canada for 17 days and purchased only an air purifier. Based on the truck licence plates, officers explained to the couple the requirement to import the American-bought vehicle into Canada, and provided instruction on how to do so. Instead, the couple returned to the United States, then tried to enter Canada later that day at the port of Goodlands without attempting to properly import the truck. Officers seized it, upon which the couple said they would turn back instead of importing it. They were required to proceed through and were issued a $12,000 penalty. Had they been truthful, they would have paid approximately $1,500 in GST.
Boissevain
On May 2, a 39-year-old North Dakota commercial driver stated he was coming to pick up a load in Brandon. Upon inspection, officers uncovered a prohibited switchblade knife in a pocket near the driver’s seat. When presented with the switchblade, the man said he knew he should have declared it, but chose not to. The weapon was seized without terms of release, and the man was allowed to proceed into Canada.
On May 3, four travellers arrived with 15 horses to sell at a Saskatchewan auction. In the process of verifying the declared value of the horses, officers found evidence suggesting one of the passengers, a 28-year-old Minnesota man, intended to sell undeclared spurs and saddles. Officers seized the goods, worth more than $2,800, from the front storage area of the trailer. He was issued a penalty of more than $700, had he been truthful, he would have paid less than $150 in GST. Officers also seized three undeclared logs of chewing tobacco and a bottle of undeclared brandy brought by another passenger, a 60-year-old South Dakota man, with no terms of release.
On May 20, a 39-year-old Saskatchewan man attempted to import a 1967 muscle car with a declared value of US$5,000. Officers found a receipt that listed the sale price as US$10,000. The man admitted to the undervaluation, and was issued a penalty of more than $2,800. Had he made a truthful declaration, he would have paid approximately $500 in GST.
On May 24, a 46-year-old Manitoba man declared a wake-boarding boat at a value of US$12,500. Suspicious of the declared value, CBSA officers conducted a secondary examination. They found notes along with a wire transfer indicating a purchase for US$19,500. The man immediately admitted to paying that price, and said he was trying to save taxes. He was issued a penalty of just over $1,800. If he had not made a false statement, he would have paid approximately $1,000 in GST.
On May 29, CBSA officers referred a 48-year-old Manitoba man to secondary after observing symptoms of intoxication. He claimed he had been in the United States for a short period. Officers performed an Approved Screening Device test, which determined the man was intoxicated. He was arrested and transferred to the RCMP.
Lyleton
On May 3, a Saskatchewan woman, 49 declared US$900 in purchases. However, receipts handed to a CBSA officer showed more than US$1,300 in purchases. Officers also noted two boxes in her vehicle’s rear trailer that were not accounted for in the receipts. When asked about it, the woman produced another receipt for a hot tub and insulation, with a value of nearly $5,100. She claimed to have forgotten to give it to the officer, and was issued a penalty of $1,300. If she had originally declared the goods, she would have paid approximately $250 in GST.
Emerson West Lynne
On May 5, a Manitoba couple, ages 37 and 35, told CBSA officers they had paid US$2,000 for tires and rims. When questioned further, the man said he did not declare other parts he claimed to have purchased second-hand. The man said the tires were made in the United States, but upon secondary examination, officers revealed they were actually made in Korea. Officers found new and custom-made auto parts on the vehicle, and miscellaneous undeclared shopping goods inside. In total, the couple did not declare or made false statements for almost $4,200 worth of goods. They were issued a penalty of approximately $2,100. Had they been truthful, they would have paid just over $200 in GST.
Later that day, a male Manitoba resident, 70, was referred to secondary examination. He indicated that he did not have firearms with him. While searching his pickup and trailer, officers found a .44-calibre revolver packed between cardboard boxes in a leather case. They arrested the man and also seized more than five kilograms of concealed chewing tobacco. He was issued a penalty of more than $1,600 and was issued a promise to appear in court by CBSA Criminal Investigations.
On May 7, a 61-year-old South Dakota man was transporting horses to a race track and told CBSA officers he had never been arrested or convicted of any crimes. Officers determined he had convictions for assault and also had drunk-driving charges. The man was refused entry and returned to the United States.
On the same day, CBSA officers seized suspected child pornography from a 36-year-old commercial driver residing in Saskatchewan. The man was arrested and criminally charged by CBSA Criminal Investigations.
On May 11, a 49-year-old male Ontario commercial driver said he had delivered a load of cattle and visited family over the two-week period he was in the United States. CBSA officers noticed anomalies on his truck, and determined modifications had been recently completed. The man admitted he had actually been waiting in the United States for the truck to be repaired, and produced a receipt for more than US$15,000. The repairs were non-dutiable, but the driver was issued a penalty of almost $800. Had he reported the repairs, he would have paid nothing.
On May 14, a 32-year-old Manitoba man attempted to import a 1967 muscle car into Canada. He provided the required documentation, including a bill of sale for US$17,000. CBSA officers found evidence the car was purchased for $27,500. The man immediately admitted to the undervaluation, but said it was the seller’s idea to create the bill with the false amount. Officers issued the man a penalty of more than $5,800. Had he been truthful, he would have paid approximately $1,400 in GST.
On May 15, a 51-year-old Pennsylvania man was destined for Alberta to go hunting. He claimed he had never been arrested and had no criminal record. Database checks revealed the man served three years in jail for conspiring to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana. He was refused entry and returned to the United States.
On May 16, a 57-year-old male United States resident attempted to enter Canada to find employment. He claimed he had one charge related to drunk driving, but that it had been reduced to careless driving. CBSA officers verified that information, but saw the man had five other drunk-driving convictions, two assault convictions, and a failure to appear. The man was refused entry and returned to the United States.
On May 23, a 49-year-old Manitoba woman was referred for secondary examination. Before the exam began, she admitted there were two bottles of undeclared hot sauce in the trunk of her car. Officers found miscellaneous undeclared packages, with a combined value of over $1,500. They also recovered a small amount of suspected marijuana from the woman’s purse. She was arrested and later released with a penalty of almost $1,300.
Later that day, a 41-year-old Illinois man coming to Canada and was referred for secondary examination. Officers seized a loaded .40-calibre handgun with three extra loaded magazines from the vehicle, and arrested the man. They then transferred him to RCMP custody.
On May 24, a 57-year-old male Tennessee truck driver attempted to enter Canada to deliver a load. The man said he had never been arrested, fingerprinted, handcuffed, or served jail time. A background check showed the man had been arrested for numerous offences, including assaulting police and petit larceny. He was refused entry and returned to the United States.
Tolstoi
On May 10, a 49-year-old Manitoba resident arrived at the port of Tolstoi. While examining his vehicle, CBSA officers found undeclared items – eight truck tires and four rims. In the cab, they found invoices for the tires, purchased in Minnesota. The driver admitted to buying and not declaring them. The man was issued a penalty of more than $650. If he had been truthful, he would have paid approximately $80 in GST for the tires and rims.
South Junction
On May 27, a 49-year-old Minnesota man arrived at the port of South Junction. During initial secondary examination, CBSA officers found three litres of undeclared alcohol in the vehicle. In total, 18 cans of beer, 12 bottles of whiskey, and 18 bottles of vodka were seized – totalling 61 litres of undeclared alcohol. The man was arrested and released on a Promise to Appear and a $500 recognisance and refused entry to Canada.
Reminder for travellers to the International Peace Garden in Boissevain:
Visiting the International Peace Garden does constitute exiting Canada. When travelling to the International Peace Garden, while not mandatory, a passport is the preferred form of identification to expedite your processing when re-entering Canada.
