The Canadian Border Services Agency has provided another roundup of incidents and services provided by customs and immigration officers at two of the busier border crossing points in Saskatchewan (Estevan Highway and North Portal).
These incidents were all recorded during April, according to the CBSA communications office.
Several people were refused entry into Canada for previous criminal activities including assault, drug trafficking, kidnapping, driving under the influence and fraud. Of these refusals, there were a few of particular interest such as the one person who attempted to enter Canada at the Estevan Highway port on April 6. The U.S. citizen from North Dakota was refused entry due to serious criminal activities in the past such as a 2004 conviction for sexual exploitation of a child. That person is a registered sex offender.
On April 7 a Saskatchewan resident was arrested by border services officers and turned over to the Estevan RCMP members when the CBSA officers learned the traveller had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in a Saskatoon court on charges for traffic violations.
On April 14, a resident of Iowa en route to Alaska was referred for a secondary examination. During the second check, the detector dog Holly was deployed and Holly gave officers an indication that some baked goods in a cooler contained something more than the traditional flour, eggs and sugar. Further testing revealed that the baked goods contained 363.9 grams of marijuana. The goods were seized and a penalty of $1,356 was issued and the subject was turned over to members of the Estevan detachment of the RCMP.
On April 19 border officers suspected a Saskatchewan resident returning to Canada was driving while impaired. The subject failed a roadside alcohol screening test so was arrested and turned over to the Estevan RCMP for further processing.
Canada Border Services continued to encounter numerous cases of undervalued and undeclared goods being brought into Canada. For instance, on April 14 a Saskatchewan resident undervalued a newer boat and motor by $7,515. It was declared as having a value of $31,563 when the true purchase price had actually been $39,078. A false receipt had been issued and the importer admitted to purposely falsifying the bill to save the GST at the border. The boat and motor were seized and the importer was fined $4,133.
On April 18. two Saskatchewan residents returning from a shopping trip in the United States failed to declare two watches that had been purchased. The watches were uncovered during a secondary search. One of the watches was being worn by the passenger in the vehicle. The value of the time pieces was $1,901. Since they had not been declared, they were seized and a penalty of $950 was imposed plus $95 for the provincial sales tax was assessed for their return. The driver stated the watches had not been declared so as not to reveal a birthday surprise, and had intended to declare them in private when in the customs office. However that person failed to do so and it was determined that the story just didn't hold up since it was noted that the birthday in question had passed a few months earlier.
On April 19, an Alberta resident undervalued a recreational vehicle by $4,364. The importer declared the vehicle at $8,219 when in fact the purchase price had been $12,584. The RV was seized and released upon the payment of a $2,400 penalty. Once again a false receipt had been used with the subject admitting to falsifying the bill of sale to evade paying GST.
In late March, an empty box with golf brand markings was located in ditch near Noonan by the local sheriff. The box still had an address label with the recipient's name on it. One month later, the recipient entered the United States at the Estevan Highway/Noonan border crossing and was questioned about the empty box. It was determined the subject had discarded the box prior to returning to Canada and did not report the contents of the box a golf putter valued at US$212. The sheriff was summoned and issued a $50 fine to the driver for littering and upon the subject's return to Canada he was issued a penalty of $127.
On April 6 at the Estevan Highway crossing, a Saskatchewan resident was returning to Canada following a two-week stay in the United States. The subject stated there was nothing to declare but was referred for further examination wherein officers found an undeclared laptop computer valued at $1,711. The laptop was seized and the traveller was fined $685. The traveller admitted to not declaring the item in an attempt to avoid paying taxes. It was noted that the traveller would have been entitled to a $750 exemption if he had just made the declaration at the time of entry, but since he hadn't, the exemption was nullified.
On April 29, a resident returning from Ontario was carrying vials of anabolic steroids in their personal effects. Steroids are prohibited under Canadian law without a prescription and this traveller did not have a prescription so the items were seized with no terms of release and a penalty of $220 was assessed.
On a final note National Missing Children's Day is being observed May 24.
CBSA officers pay careful attention to children at international airports and land border crossings to help locate missing, abducted and runaway children, and return them to their guardians. Officers are vigilant when they check identifications and take every opportunity to educate parents and guardians. This additional attention helps ensure children's safety.
CBSA asks the public to watch for awareness campaigns at the borders right across Saskatchewan for the rest of this month and onward.
Anyone with information about suspicious border activity is asked to contact the Border Watch Line at 1-888-502-9060. For more information about CBSA, please call 1-800-461-9999.
