Prosecutions and Seizures

Northern Ontario Region

Fort Frances port of entry Monthly Enforcement Highlights

Fort Frances, Ontario, December 20, 2011 — The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) facilitates the entry of legitimate travellers and goods, while protecting the safety and security of Canadians and ensuring that Canada’s borders are not used for illegal activity. This work is carried out by CBSA border services officers who ensure that the people, goods and conveyances entering Canada meet all requirements and are compliant with Canadian law.

In November, CBSA officers at the Fort Frances port of entry (POE) processed more than 48,000 travellers in 31,000 vehicles, and 792 commercial trucks. Twenty-four charter buses and 713 pedestrians were processed during the month. The CBSA also conducted over 1,300 secondary examinations for customs purposes.

IMMIGRATION

Officers at the Fort Frances POE conducted more than 1,300 immigration interviews resulting in the issuance of seven work permits, 10 visitor records and five Remote Area Border Crossing permits. The CBSA determined that twenty-one people had various admissibility issues, of which 12 were refused entry to Canada. The other nine were allowed entry on a temporary visitor permit.

On November 5, a U.S. resident was denied entry to Canada after officers discovered that he had multiple criminal convictions in the United States including sexual assault and battery.

Also on November 5, a U.S. resident arrived at the Fort Frances POE to go hunting in Canada. After background checks were completed as part of the firearms registration process, the CBSA discovered that he had previous convictions in the U.S. for burglary, larceny, driving while impaired and public drunkenness. The individual was found to be inadmissible for serious criminality and was denied entry to Canada.

On November 9, a U.S. resident sought entry to Canada but background checks showed a lengthy criminal history spanning over a period of 31 years and including multiple convictions for burglary, theft, driving while impaired, fraud, as well as assault and domestic assault convictions. The traveller was denied entry to Canada.

CUSTOMS

During the month of November, CBSA officers conducted over 1,300 secondary examinations for customs purposes, initiated 10 seizure actions and issued an additional six written warnings for non-declared or undervalued goods.

On November 7, a returning commercial truck driver from Canada declared $2,000 worth of purchases after a 48-hour absence. A systems query showed the driver had entered the United States the previous day and was therefore not eligible to claim a $400 exemption. The goods were seized, as the importer provided inaccurate information regarding his exemption entitlement, and were returned to him upon payment of a $494 penalty. If the goods had been properly declared, the duties and taxes would have been $208.

On November 19, a returning Canadian resident declared skis valued at $750. The traveller produced an invoice with no value, and the goods were held at the POE until a proper invoice was provided. When the invoice was received, it revealed that the actual value of the skis was approximately $1,300. The skis were seized for undervaluation and returned to the importer upon payment of a $195 penalty. If the goods had been properly declared, the duties and taxes would have been $71.

Travel Tips

The CBSA reminds travellers to plan their border crossing to avoid delays for the upcoming holiday season. If you are travelling with gifts, do not wrap them prior to crossing the border in the event that a border services officer needs to inspect the package.

Declare all your purchases regardless of whether exemptions may apply as there may be enforcement actions taken for undervaluing or not declaring purchases. You may be required to pay applicable duties and taxes on purchases over your personal exemptions or where no personal exemptions apply.

Please refer to the I Declare brochure on the CBSA Web site for more information.

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For media information
Caroline Desjarlais
Communications
Canada Border Services Agency
613-991-1591