Guns continue to be confiscated at Saskatchewan land border crossings by Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers.
The smaller border crossings are sometimes the scenes for the arrival of undeclared handguns, as well as rifles. The CBSA officers also continue to be vigilant in refusing entry to foreign nationals who have been convicted of serious crimes.
In a recent monthly border report, the CBSA Criminal Investigations Section laid charges in a firearms-related incident at Carievale in southeast Saskatchewan. The incident that took place on June 18, saw Cody Gerald Moe, 33, of South Dakota being charged with failing to report, making a false statement and smuggling under the Customs Act. In addition, he was handed two more charges under the Criminal Code. The charges stem from an April 28 incident when officers seized a 9-mm handgun, a 12-gauge shotgun, a .22-calibre rifle and an over capacity magazine.
At the Northgate border crossing, officers seized a prohibited .22-calibre revolver from a 67-year-old United States man on June 8. The traveller was assessed a $1,000 penalty and was refused entry into Canada.
Another prohibited handgun was seized by CBSA officers at the same border point on Jun 15. Charges are pending in regards to that incident.
Northgate was also the site for CBSA action against a 58-year-old Michigan man who was destined for Alaska on June 7. It was revealed the man had been convicted of burglary, assault, driving under the influence, credit card fraud and possession of dangerous drugs. The man was refused entry into Canada.
On June 24, at the Estevan Highway border crossing, a 33-year-old U.S. man sought entry into Canada, but further examination revealed he had convictions for assault causing bodily harm, resisting arrest and cocaine possession. He was also refused entry into Canada.
The smaller border points did not gain all the attention in June, said the CBSA report. The very busy border port at North Portal, Saskatchewan’s busiest border crossing, saw officers seize three handguns from a traveller on June 26, bringing the running provincial total to 17 guns so far this year. During their search, officers uncovered a prohibited .357 calibre pistol, a prohibited .45-calibre pistol and a restricted .40-calibre pistol.
As a result of this examination, Jeffrey Edward Kingsley, 56, of Alaska pleaded guilty to smuggling under the Customs Act when he appeared in court in Regina on June 29. He was subsequently fined $3,500 for his intended actions.
On June 11, North Portal officers refused entry to a 49-year-old Colorado man who had been convicted of aggravated vehicular homicide. They also issued a removal order against a foreign national on June 30. The man was seeking to apply for a work permit, but officers determined he had already been working illegally in Saskatoon for the past four months. He was removed from Canada and is banned from returning for one year.
At the Regway border crossing, CBSA officials issued a removal order on June 1 to a 49-year-old foreign national who arrived at the portal station to renew his visitor status. Officers discovered evidence the man was already working in Canada without proper authorization, so he, too, was removed from Canada and is banned from re-entry for a year.
In June, CBSA officers in southern Saskatchewan processed 50,018 travellers in 18,655 personal vehicles and 13,246 commercial trucks. They also dealt with 250 permanent resident landings and made 28 seizures of suspected drugs, undeclared firearms, undervalued purchases and other items.
