The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) seized a large amount of currency suspected to be proceeds of crime from a traveller at the North Portal border on June 19. Officers referred a U.S. man for further examination, and during a vehicle search, found $98,800 in U.S. currency spread throughout the vehicle.
During the examination, officers uncovered evidence suggesting the currency was linked to organized crime, and they seized the currency as suspected proceeds of crime under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act with no terms of release. The case was turned over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for further investigation.
Luke Reimer, CBSA communications officer, said this is the first seizure made in Saskatchewan this year.
“Officers in Saskatchewan do make undeclared currency seizures from time to time. There were five cases last year, however this is the first this year at a border crossing in which the funds are suspected to be proceeds of crime,” said Reimer.
This is the fourth-largest CBSA currency seizure for suspected proceeds of crime made at a Canadian border crossing in 2015.
Anyone importing more than $10,000 is required to declare the currency.
“When CBSA officers suspect on reasonable grounds that the non-reported monetary instruments are the proceeds of crime or terrorist financing, they may seize the currency with no terms of release,” Reimer added, and that’s what happened in this case.
Charges have not been laid in the case at this time, and Reimer didn’t elaborate on why this particular individual may be suspected of having some link to terrorist activity.
“Because it’s an ongoing investigation I can’t release any further information on the connection, but I can say our officers are trained in investigative and questioning techniques,” said Reimer.
“For this case, the man was eventually released and then refused entry and returned to the United States, because previous criminality made him inadmissible to Canada,” said Reimer.
The matter has been referred to the RCMP, and it will be up to the police to lay any possible charges.
