2021 Year in review: Accomplishments by the numbers

From the Canada Border Services Agency

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) carries out its responsibilities with a workforce of approximately 14,000 employees, including over 6,500 uniformed CBSA officers who provide services at approximately 1,200 points across Canada and at 39 international locations.

These tables outline the national CBSA statistics for January 1 to October 31, 2021 (national statistics, all CBSA regions included).

Commercial goods

17,757,995 releases^{Footnote 1} of goods into the commerce of Canada following a decision by a border services officer
77,485,522 courier shipments
$133,713,603,442 Trusted Trader value for duty imported^{Footnote 2}
$26,938,036,125 total duties and taxes assessed (customs duties, Special Import Measures Act duties, surtaxes, GST and excise taxes)
Commercial conveyances:
- Highway: 4,511,477 trucks
- Air: 2,256,471 shipments
- Marine: 1,813,567 containers
- Rail: 1,488,316 cars

Travellers

13,598,519 travellers:
- Air: 4,045,224
- Highway: 9,399,536
  - including 4,833,327 truck drivers
- Marine: 130,805
- Rail: 22,954
3,079,318 travellers used Primary inspection kiosks (airport arrival kiosks)

Food, plant and animal

1,017 Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties (AAAMP) issued for food, plant and animal import violations totaling $856,300 in penalties.

Enforcement

42,839 seizures^{Footnote 3} (all commodities), including:

338 seizures for a total of 908 firearms seized
10,150 seizures for a total of 32,930 weapons seized
6,308 illegal drugs seizures valued at an estimated $357,803,151 (excludes cannabis seizures)
- Cocaine (including coca leaves, coca paste, cocaine and cocaine crack): 1,002 kilograms, valued at an estimated $115,545,334
- Heroin: 98 kilograms valued at an estimated $39,196,941
- Fentanyl: 3 kilograms valued at an estimated $804,143
- Other opioids (including opium, methadone, morphine and morphine base): 1,103 kilograms valued at an estimated $66,252,346
- Other drugs, narcotics and chemicals: 19,762 kilograms valued at an estimated $136,004,387
4,454 seizures (currency, alcohol, clothing, jewelry, other)
20,381 cannabis seizures totaling 14,472 kilograms
1,168 tobacco seizures totaling 395,328 kilograms
40 child pornography seizures

Firearms (details)

Total firearms seized: 908
Total firearms seizures: 338

Firearms
Firearm type	Quantity
Antique firearm	8
Fulauto carbine	13
Handgun	316
Miscellaneous (example, replica firearms, firearms parts, large capacity magazines, silencers other)	308
Revolver	44
Rifle	42
Semiauto pistol	125
Semiauto rifle	16
Shotgun	28
Other (including full auto pistol, full auto rifle, and semiauto carbine)	8

Weapons (details)

Total weapons seized: 32,930
Total weapon seizures: 10,150

Weapons
Prohibited weapons type	Quantity
Automatic opening knife	4,714
Bladed ring	53
Blowgun	7
Brass knuckle	4,688
Centrifugal opening knife	18,849
Crossbow (one handed use)	41
Gravity opening knife	118
Innocuous device with knife	1,320
Kiyoga/steel cobra baton	94
Morning star	46
Nunchaku	148
Push dagger	737
Shuriken	135
Stun gun	849
Taser	386
Tear gas/pepper spray	740
Other (constant companion knife, kusari/manriki, gusari)	5

Footnotes and definitions

Footnote 1

Release: A release is defined as a decision by a Border Services Officer to release goods into the commerce of Canada upon the acceptance of an interim or final accounting request presented by the importer or their customs broker.

Return to footnote 1 referrer

Footnote 2

Value for duty: A value for duty must be declared for all goods imported into Canada, including goods received free of charge (for example, gifts), in accordance with the valuation provisions of the act, regardless of the circumstances of their importation. Even if duties are not owed, the value for duty of the goods being imported must still be established so that any applicable assessment of the goods and services tax, provincial sales tax or harmonized sales tax may be calculated and accurate importation and international trade statistics can be gathered. (Reference: Customs valuation handbook)

Return to footnote 2 referrer

Footnote 3

Seizure: An action whereby the Crown takes physical possession of goods that have become the property of the Crown (that is, goods that have been forfeited). If goods are not declared, or falsely declared, the CBSA can seize them. A seizure represents one single enforcement action and may represent the seizure of one item or multiple items in one single seizure action. For example, a traveller may lose the goods permanently or may have to pay a penalty to get them back. Depending on the type of goods, the terms of release and the circumstances involved, the CBSA may impose a penalty that ranges from 25% to 80% of the value of the seized goods.

Return to footnote 3 referrer

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Date modified:: 2021-12-10

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