At North Portal, Saskatchewan's busiest border crossing, CBSA officers processed 26,904 travellers (a decline of 180 travellers from April 2013) in 7,673 cars and 10,932 commercial trucks (630 more than in April 2013) last month. They issued 66 work permits and two study permits while processing 331 new immigrants. They also made 19 seizures of nearly $88,000 of undeclared items and issued total penalties of almost $34,675 for undeclared goods and smuggled contraband. Officers also denied entry to 56 people, including 30 travellers with serious criminal records.
At the North Portal port on April 2, a Texas man was refused entry as a non-genuine visitor when he told officers he wanted to visit Canada for one week. Examination showed he was moving to Canada without the proper permits or visa. He told officers he had no intentions of returning to the United States and wanted to find work in Canada. Officers also found he had a criminal record for multiple assaults and drug-related convictions. He was issued a removal order and barred from returning to Canada for one year. He returned to the United States.
On April 2, a 35-year-old traveller from Illinois was refused entry after he admitted to officers that he was convicted of a serious assault on a police officer. Due to the seriousness of the offence, he would have to apply for criminal rehabilitation via a Canadian Consulate before he could be granted entry into Canada.
That same day, an Indiana man was moving to Alaska for work. When officers examined his vehicle, they found an undeclared, over-capacity ammunition magazine. The magazine was seized, as was the individual's vehicle. The vehicle was returned once a $500 penalty was paid. The man then continued to Alaska.
On April 4, a U.S. resident was seeking entry to deliver band equipment into Canada; however, background checks revealed the man was inadmissible for two convictions of grand larceny in California. He returned to the United States.
On April 5, a 60-year-old commercial driver from Nevada was refused entry after officers found he was convicted of assault. An identification check also showed that the traveller was charged with rape and a second incident of battery. The traveller required documents from the court showing that he was not convicted before he could be granted entry in Canada.
That same day, officers found a can of pepper spray when examining the vehicle of a Nevada commercial truck driver. The pepper spray was seized, as well as the vehicle. The vehicle was returned once the man paid a $500 penalty.
On April 7, a 25-year-old commercial driver from California was refused entry for multiple convictions for driving under the influence (DUI) and a hit-and-run. His 39-year-old co-driver was also refused entry for multiple DUIs and driving while disqualified. Both men were directed back to the United States.
On April 9, a 37-year-old woman who was moving to Alaska was refused entry as she had multiple convictions for drug trafficking, resisting arrest, arson, possessing a controlled substance, forgery, and two DUIs. She had recently completed a 13-year-prison sentence and was ineligible to apply for a permit to enter Canada.
On April 13, a 33-year-old Michigan resident was coming to Estevan with two friends. Background checks revealed a lengthy criminal record, which included assault with a weapon, domestic violence, forcible confinement and sale of a controlled substance. He was directed back to the United States. His friends returned with him.
On April 18, an Alberta couple told CBSA officers they were travelling to Alaska to deliver the motorhome they were driving to their son. During a secondary examination, however, the officers uncovered a bank draft in the driver's name and other evidence indicating he had purchased the vehicle for himself for more than $74,700 US. After further questioning, officers issued the man a penalty of about $33,500, seized his NEXUS card and referred his case to CBSA Criminal Investigations.
That same day, a Saskatchewan woman declared two dogs valued at $250 each. Upon further inspection, officers determined that one dog was purchased for $1,600 and another was purchased for $800. Officers seized the pets and returned them once a $1,176 penalty was paid. The woman would have only paid $120 in goods and services tax (GST) had she made an honest declaration.
On April 27, officers refused entry to a 41-year-old North Dakota man who had convictions for five previous DUIs, driving while disqualified, reckless driving and a probation violation. He was directed back to the United States.
On April 28, a Minnesota couple was transiting through Canada to Alaska when officers conducted an examination of their vehicle. Inside the vehicle, officers found four grams of marijuana and 24 doses of psilocybin mushrooms. The drugs and the vehicle were seized, and the vehicle was returned once an $880 penalty was paid. The couple was allowed to continue to Alaska.
At the Regway port on April 2, a 69-year-old traveller from South Dakota was refused entry to Canada after officers discovered that he had been convicted of burglary. The traveller was denied entry into Canada and returned to the United States.
On April 11, a commercial driver seeking to deliver a load was refused entry for previous convictions of robbery, possession of a dangerous drug, possession of narcotics and two DUIs. He was directed back to the United States.
On April 23, officers seized a prohibited stun gun from a commercial driver. The man initially told officers he had no weapons or firearms. It wasn't until officers completed an exam of the truck that they found the concealed weapon. The weapon was seized and the man was issued a $500 penalty. He was permitted entry.
On April 25, officers seized 27 packages of non-declared cigarettes from a returning commercial driver. Because of the offence, his FAST card was revoked.
At the Northgate port of entry on April 4, two snowbirds were returning from Arizona and told officers they did not purchase or acquire any goods while wintering in the United States. The CBSA officer asked if they were sure; the driver said they had a BBQ they had purchased three months prior but did not have a receipt for it and did not have any other goods. Officers examined their vehicle and found $1,170 in undeclared goods that were recently purchased including clothing, footwear, linens and tools. They were issued a penalty of $350. Had they been truthful, they would have been entitled to the personal exemption and would not have paid any duties or taxes.
At the Oungre port on April 6, officers refused entry to a 44-year-old Arizona man wanting to visit Canada. Background checks revealed a lengthy criminal record for drug possession, two assaults, disorderly conduct, failure to appear in court and obstruction. He was directed back to the United States.
On April 28, a 50-year-old traveller from Michigan was refused entry into Canada after officers determined that he was criminally inadmissible. The traveller had been convicted of seven separate incidents of impaired driving. He was also convicted of assault. The traveller returned to the United States.
While coming through the Coronach port of entry on April 7, a 58-year-old Tennessee man was refused entry for multiple convictions of resisting arrest and assault causing bodily harm. The man told officers he was moving to Canada.
At the Estevan Highway port, there were 4,900 travellers in 2,675 vehicles and 184 commercial trucks; by comparison to April 2013, there was a slight decline of 675 travellers and 146 commercial trucks. Nine people were refused entry, six for criminality.
On April 3, CBSA officers issued a removal order against a man from Eastern Europe who was coming to apply for a work permit, but officers found evidence that he had been working illegally in Canada for over a year. His work permit allowed him to work as a mushroom picker in Ontario, but he left for Saskatchewan and was working in a restaurant. He is barred from returning to Canada for one year. He confirmed his departure from Canada.
On April 5, a U.S. man was coming to Estevan for a few hours. Background checks revealed he was inadmissible to Canada for convictions of aggravated incest and obstruction. Officers directed him back to the United States.
On April 13, two Saskatchewan residents were returning from Colorado where they had purchased a puppy, which they declared at $700. Officers were suspicious of the declared value, and during an exam, they found evidence the dog was sold for $2,000 US. The man admitted to undervaluing the dog to save taxes. They were issued an $822 penalty. If they had been truthful they would have paid $100 in GST.
On April 14, officers refused entry to a man wanting to visit Canada for the first time. The only piece of identification he had was an illegible photocopy of his U.S. permanent resident card. Officers advised the man that he must provide original documents in order to substantiate identity and citizenship.
