May proved to be a busy month for local Canadian Border Services Agency officers.
According to information from the CBSA, 30,438 travellers were processed at the North Portal Crossing, which was up slightly when compared to the 29,873 the same month in 2012. These travellers entered in 9,074 light vehicles and 10,774 commercial trucks. The Victoria Day long weekend was one of the busiest weekends of the year so far with 4,742 travellers processed.
At the Estevan Highway border crossing, 5,841 travellers were processed, compared to 4,637 last year. These passengers entered in 3,441 light vehicles and 160 commercial trucks.
In May, 80 travellers were refused entry, 39 of them for criminal history. At Estevan Highway, 19 were refused, 13 for having a criminal background. In May 2012, six travellers were refused at Estevan Highway.
CBSA officers at North Portal also seized $165,635 of goods, and issued $53,152 in penalties.
Among the highlights at the North Portal crossing was on May 2, when three foreign nationals, aged 56, 44, and 35, wanted to apply for work permits to work for a construction company in Saskatchewan. Through examination, CBSA officers determined all three had already been working for the same company without authorization and that the oldest had no status in Canada. For this reason, the oldest was issued a removal order and excluded from entering Canada for one year while the other two were found to be inadmissible and allowed to withdraw their application to enter Canada. All three departed Canada.
On May 4, a 24-year-old Wyoming woman and her 25-year-old friend arrived seeking entry for a short stay in Canada. During an examination of the vehicle, CBSA officers found an undeclared 9mm pistol along with a small quantity of marijuana. The woman was arrested, her vehicle was seized and later released upon payment of a $1,000 penalty. Both individuals were refused entry to Canada and returned to the U.S.
On May 8, a 34-year-old Minnesota commercial driver sought entry to deliver a load in Canada. During examination, officers determined he had been convicted of damage to property. As this offence makes him inadmissible to Canada, he was refused entry. The following day, he returned to submit an application for a temporary resident permit, which could allow him to enter Canada.
Since he was not in possession of the necessary documents to submit this application, he was allowed to withdraw his application to enter and returned to the U.S. Later that same day, he returned with new documentation. Upon review of these documents, the officer had reason to believe that some were fraudulent. The man was refused entry to Canada and advised his application would not be accepted because of these fraudulent documents.
Two men aged 54 and 37 from Minnesota sought entry to Canada on May 11, stating they were en route to southern British Columbia for a three-month trip. After questioning, CBSA officers determined the men were, in fact, travelling to Canada to see a business they were interested in purchasing. They were refused entry for misrepresenting themselves and returned to the U.S. Later that same day, both men arrived at the Torquay port of entry and were untruthful to the CBSA officers there. They were refused entry again. On May 13, 2013, they returned with the appropriate documentation and were admitted as business visitors.
On May 15, a 45-year-old man, his 22-year-old son and their 23-year-old friend from Missouri sought entry for a trip to the Alberta Rockies. Through examination, officers determined that the three men were, in fact, coming to work in a construction-related job in northern Alberta. The individuals did not have work permits and were issued removal orders and are barred from returning to Canada for a one-year period.
On May 20, a 38-year-old Montana man was referred for secondary examination as he declared the two portable storage containers he was transporting, which he stated would not remain in Canada. Further investigation revealed the contrary, and that the containers had been sold to a resident in Alberta for $59,511.55. The goods were seized and released upon payment of a penalty of $23,804.62. If the goods had been correctly reported to CBSA officers, the man would have paid $5,951.15 in taxes.
A 52-year-old man from Saskatchewan returned to Canada on May 21 after purchasing a collector car in Florida. The car was declared at $8,215.20. Further examination revealed the car was actually purchased for $23,003.60. The car was seized and released after a penalty of $8,133.62 was paid. If properly reported, the additional GST required over the original amount would have been $1,478.84.
On May 25, a 62-year-old Pennsylvania man was delivering a trailer to Alaska. He acknowledged having been charged with deviant sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, endangering welfare of child and a number of other offences. Background checks also revealed the traveller was convicted of violating a protection order charge. He was refused entry to Canada for criminality and returned to the U.S.
On May 31, a 42-year-old returning Alberta resident declared he had bought a race car and parts totalling US$30,000. During a secondary exam, officers determined that a part valued at $5,979.22 had not been reported and the car was undervalued by $41,902.62. The items were seized for undervaluation with a penalty of $11,970.47 issued and paid before the items were released. If the items had been correctly reported, the additional amount of GST and PST would have been $4,644.66. This file has been referred to CBSA Criminal Investigations for possible prosecution.
At Estevan Highway on May 9, a 41-year-old woman from California was coming to Canada for an unknown reason. After she refused to answer officers' questions and attempted to prevent them from examining her vehicle, CBSA officers arrested her for hindering under the Customs Act.
During examination of her vehicle, two prohibited devices (pepper spray) and a small amount of suspected marijuana were found. Background information also showed that she was convicted in the U.S. of carrying a concealed weapon, cruelty to children with possible injury or death, and causing a disturbance. She was found to be inadmissible to Canada for criminality, refusing to answer questions, and committing an act upon entry.
At the Oungre crossing, a 47-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman were seeking to visit the local area for the day on May 11. Background checks on the couple revealed the man had multiple convictions related to dismantling stolen vehicles and the woman had a conviction for assault. They were both refused entry and returned to the U.S. That same day, three more people were refused entry: two for criminality while one lacked proper documents to obtain a work permit.
On May 12, officers seized suspected steroids from a 53-year-old Saskatchewan woman. While the woman stated she had nothing to declare, officers conducted a routine exam of her vehicle and found three bottles of suspected steroids under some bagged clothing. Officers seized the pills and issued a $1,260 penalty. A permit is required to import controlled drugs under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and only a licensed dealer may obtain a permit.
On May 16, a 46-year-old man working in North Dakota was refused entry for multiple assault convictions, two DUIs and one drug trafficking conviction. He returned to the U.S.
At the Torquay crossing on May 13, a 50-year-old truck driver from Nebraska was refused entry to Canada for a previous assault conviction. According to records, this was the man's third attempt to enter Canada - all at different border crossings. He was counselled on rehabilitation, which could allow him to overcome his criminal inadmissibility.
On May 24 at Northgate, a 19-year-old farm worker was seeking to enter Canada to visit local farms; however, officers were suspicious that the man was likely going to engage in employment. When questioned, he admitted his intentions, and that he did not have the proper documentation to obtain a work permit. Officers provided the man with instructions on how to apply and advised that he not re-enter Canada again until this process was completed. He attempted entry at Carievale the next day, but was again refused entry.
With fishing season well underway, the CBSA would also like to remind travellers that they cannot bring live bait into Canada without a permit and the importation of certain goods, including firearms, firewood and fireworks, is restricted or prohibited in Canada. To avoid the possibility of penalties, including seizure or prosecution, make sure you have the information you require before attempting to import these items into Canada. For more information, visit the CBSA website at: http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/menu-eng.html.
