April 2016
Backgrounder
Ambassador Bridge
Two Indiana residents were referred for a secondary examination on April 1. Officers found a loaded handgun with a 14-round magazine inside a black duffel bag belonging to the male traveller. The gun was seized, and the travellers were arrested. The travellers paid the terms of release for the vehicle penalty of $1,500, and continued with their travels into Canada.
After making a wrong turn on to the Ambassador Bridge on April 22, four Indiana residents, two men and two women, declared two handguns and a pellet gun to the primary officer. While conducting the secondary examination, officers found a pair of brass knuckles, a Taser gun, and 17 grams of marijuana. All four travellers were arrested and the items were seized. Once the $440 terms of release for the vehicle penalty was paid, they were escorted back to the United States (U.S.).
On April 25, a 60-year-old Ohio resident was referred for a secondary examination. Officers searching the traveller’s vehicle noticed his nervous behaviour. During the vehicle examination, loose hollow point rounds were discovered along with a loaded revolver in the glove compartment. The man was subsequently arrested, and the gun and ammunition were seized. Terms of release for the vehicle penalty were $1,000. After satisfying all immigration questions, the traveller paid the terms of release and was allowed to proceed into Canada.
Windsor Tunnel
Three Michigan residents were referred for examination on April 1. During the exam, an undeclared dog was found in the hatchback. Further examination revealed a contract of sale for the dog, valuing him at US$4,000, and registration paperwork describing the dog as a purebred. Information found indicated that the purchaser in Canada encouraged the breeder not to declare the dog as a pit bull due to legislation restrictions against the pit bull breed, and also to evade mentioning that the dog was coming in for the purpose of sale. The dog was seized, the terms of release paid were CAN$1,037.68, and the travellers with the dog were returned to the U.S.
On April 20, a non-NEXUS Michigan resident was referred for examination from the Trusted Traveller NEXUS lane and spontaneously declared a firearm to the secondary officer when he exited his vehicle. The gun was located in the glove box and was seized. The traveller was arrested but was released upon paying the terms of release conveyance penalty of $1,500, and returned to the U.S.
St. Clair District
Two residents from Richmond Hill and Scarborough, Ontario were referred to the Blue Water Bridge Commercial dock for an exam and possible offload on April 11. Both declared an absence of five days. Each one declared one carton of cigarettes. A subsequent search of the cab revealed an additional 37 cartons of cigarettes. The cigarettes were concealed under the bunk area behind bottles of fluid and roadside equipment. Receipts found on one of the persons indicated that the cigarettes had been purchased for resale purposes. Both claimed ownership and were arrested. Seizure action with terms of release for the cartons of cigarettes amounted to $1,480 and was paid by both.
On April 27, two Indiana residents, a man and a woman, travelling for the day to Niagara Falls, were referred to the Blue Water Bridge secondary after displaying hesitant and nervous behaviour when responding to the officer’s primary firearm question. The male passenger was arrested when an undeclared loaded firearm with a round in the chamber was discovered in his luggage. CBSA Investigations attended and pressed the following charges under the Customs Act: false statements pursuant to paragraph 153a), and evading compliance pursuant to paragraph 153c). The female driver was not arrested. The terms of release penalty of $1,000 for the vehicle were paid. The male traveller was criminally inadmissible and both residents returned to the U.S. The accused is to return to court on June 8.
Peace Bridge
Two Ohio residents, coming to Niagara Falls on April 16, were arrested after one traveller changed their initial declaration during the vehicle examination to include a firearm. The unloaded firearm was located under the driver's seat and a prohibited gun magazine with ammunition was found in the centre console. The firearm and prohibited magazine were seized with no terms of release and a conveyance penalty of $1,500 was paid. The travellers were allowed to proceed into Canada.
On April 28, three male New York residents without identification were referred from the Trusted Traveller NEXUS lane for examination. The subjects stated they did not realize they were entering Canada until part way across the bridge. During the car exam, an unloaded .22-calibre firearm was found in the trunk and all three travellers were arrested. Also, during the frisk of one traveller, approximately 13 grams of suspected marijuana was found in a pocket. The firearm and marijuana were seized, and all three males returned to the U.S after the terms of release for the vehicle penalty of $1,220 were paid.
Rainbow Bridge
On April 2, two California residents without proper identification were referred to secondary for an examination and additional questioning. The travellers inadvertently booked a hotel in Niagara Falls Canada and were simply following their Global Positioning System. As the driver exited the car he told the officers there was a firearm locked in a box under the driver’s side back seat in the trunk area. Both travellers were arrested. Once the examination was completed, the firearm was seized with no terms of release and a vehicle penalty of $1,000 was paid.
On April 2, a returning Ontario resident had to pay taxes on the eight-week-old puppy purchased from a U.S. breeder. The value of the puppy was declared at US$500. After a vehicle exam, further evidence revealed that the breeder sold the puppies for US$1,500. When confronted, the traveller admitted that he did in fact pay US$1,500. The puppy was seized until the terms of release of CAN$326.18 for undervaluation were paid.
On April 5, six returning residents were referred for examination and immigration questioning. They declared $200 worth of goods, and $10,000 in currency. In the secondary examination area, one of the residents admitted to having more money than $10,000, from the sale of property in the U.S. The money was concealed within the lining of two suitcases and included, with the money, were bank statements/invoices accounting for the undeclared currency. When the vehicle examination was completed, officers seized $112,650 in currency and $3,731 in undeclared jewellery. The terms of release penalty for the jewellery were $1,119.51 and $2,500 for the currency; both penalties were paid by the travellers.
On April 30, three Florida residents were travelling to Niagara Falls to sightsee for the day and were referred for an examination and additional immigration questioning for lack of proper identification. During the secondary examination, an unloaded handgun was found hidden in a compartment of a duffel bag in the back of their vehicle. The handgun was seized, and both adults were initially arrested. Once established that the driver of the vehicle took ownership of the gun, the male passenger was released. CBSA Criminal Investigations laid three charges under the Customs Act against the driver: 153(a) for False Statements, 153(c) for Evade Compliance and 159 for smuggling. Niagara Regional Police Service took custody of the subject. The terms of release for the conveyance penalty were $1000 and were paid.
Queenston Bridge
On April 23, an Ontario resident was referred to secondary to pay taxes on items purchased in the U.S. and for a vehicle examination. The goods declared consisted of miscellaneous items, no firearms or weapons were declared. During the exam, in the passenger door, a prohibited replica firearm was found and seized for non-report. The driver was arrested and CBSA Criminal Investigations laid the following charges under the Customs Act against the driver: evading compliance pursuant to paragraph 153c), possession of illegal goods/unlawfully imported goods pursuant to section 155, and smuggling pursuant to section 159. The terms of release for the vehicle penalty were $500 and after payment, the driver was released on a promise to appear in court. The court date is scheduled for June 23.
On April 25, an Ontario resident undervalued the vehicle he was importing, which resulted in its seizure and terms of release payment of CAN$15,684.08. The traveller declared the value of the vehicle at US$22,500 while the officer’s investigation determined the vehicle was actually purchased for US$45,000.
An Ontario resident declared purchasing a vehicle for US$3,500 on April 26. He was referred to secondary for processing of the vehicle importation, and exam. During the examination evidence was found that indicated to other auto part purchases with an approximate total of US$8,153. Further investigation and questioning led to the subject admitting to paying US$8,000 for the vehicle, including parts that were installed on the vehicle. Officers seized the vehicle, and the owner paid terms of release penalty of CAN$3,138.30.
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