CBSA Quebec Region: Enforcement and operational highlights in 2022 

Backgrounder

detector dogs
CBSA officers, assisted by detector dogs Boone and Cheers, intercepted 43.25 kilograms of cannabis concealed in packages at the Montréal International Mail Processing Centre.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Quebec Region, presented enforcement and operational highlights for the period of January 1 to October 31, 2022.

The Quebec Region has 87 points of service including 32 land border crossings (five designated commercial offices), nine marine offices (including the ports of Montreal and Quebec City), six railway terminals, 25 international and secondary airports and one mail processing Centre. The points of service are located along the 813 km of shared border with the United States—the longest stretch of land border in Canada. We monitor vessels along 2,500 km of maritime coastline. Our teams investigate and apprehend those who break the law (customs and immigration) to support the operations of the CBSA and other law enforcement organizations in Canada and abroad. Teams of trade experts also help ensure the prosperity of the Canadian economy.

Building a modern border

  • CBSA Advance Declaration: In 2022, crossing the border was modernized and expedited at Montréal-Trudeau and Québec City Jean Lesage airports where it is now possible to submit customs and immigration information prior to flying to Canada in the ArriveCAN application before a flight to Canada. This feature is optional and allows travellers to save time on arrival. At Montréal-Trudeau Airport, this function provides access to dedicated lines that speed up the border process.
  • Infrastructure: On October 22, 2022, the CBSA moved the operations of the Immigration Holding Centre (IHC) in Laval to a new facility. The new centre reflects the CBSA's commitment to exercising its responsibility for detention to the highest possible standards, the mental health and well-being of those detained, and the safety and security of Canadians.

Welcoming travellers to Canada

7,938,074 international travellers were welcomed to Quebec by border services officers in the first 10 months of 2022, an increase of 321% over 2021 (when we processed 1,885,260 travellers).

40,100 refugee claims were processed by the CBSA in Quebec in the first 10 months of 2022.   

Supporting the economy

  • 455,139 commercial truck crossings were processed by the CBSA at Quebec ports of entry in the first 10 months of 2022.
  • $86 million in duties and taxes were collected by the CBSA from travellers at our various offices and ports of entry across Quebec.
  • 194 seizures of alcoholic beverages were made in 2022 at Quebec ports of entry for items not declared or undervalued by travellers.
  • 475 seizures of undeclared or under-declared luxury goods (clothing, jewellery, watches, handbags etc.) have been made at our borders so far.
  • $75,000,000 in duties and taxes have been recovered in 300 trade audits completed in Quebec since January 1. For example, importers were incorrectly declaring broiler meat as spent poultry in order to pay less duty and tax. These trade audits help protect Canadian producers.

Protecting Canadians

  • 834 firearms, weapons and weapons parts have been seized by the CBSA since January 1 at all ports of entry in Quebec. Examples include:
  • Two firearms, two 17-round magazines and two 13-round magazines, all undeclared, were seized at the St. Armand/Philipsburg port of entry on 29 April. The travellers were returned to the United States.
  • A firearm, two high-capacity magazines (12 and 16 rounds) and an undeclared can of pepper spray were intercepted on August 13 at the Hereford Road border crossing. The traveller was fined $2,000 and returned to the United States.  
  • Two undeclared prohibited handguns belonging to a traveller were intercepted on October 22 at the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle border crossing in the traveller sector. She had to pay a $2,000 penalty before being sent back to the United States.
  • 4,469 drug seizures were made in 2022 at all ports of entry in Quebec this year. Examples include:
    • 42.5 kg of cannabis was seized on February 17 and March 17 at the Montréal International Mail Processing Centre. The drugs were turned over to the RCMP.
    • 13.5 kg of heroin found on travellers from South Africa were intercepted on 12 and 16 May at Montréal-Trudeau airport, passenger operations.
    • Two seizures of LSD (12.5 ml and five doses) were made in September and October at the Stanstead border crossing. Travellers were charged $440 in penalties.
    • 77 kg of ketamine, concealed in a commercial shipment from Germany was seized by the CBSA at Montréal-Trudeau Airport, commercial sector on October 20.
  • $169,417.75 in suspected proceeds of crime were seized in 10 currency seizures in 2022 at Montréal-Trudeau Airport in the commercial and passenger operations.
  • 893 stolen vehicles were recovered at the Port of Montréal by Maritime and Rail Service officers before they were exported abroad.

Other enforcement highlights

  • Immigration consultant found guilty of fraud: On August 22, following a CBSA investigation, an accredited immigration consultant was found guilty at the Montréal courthouse of assisting permanent residents to falsely simulate their residency in Canada in order to retain residency status and subsequently become Canadian citizens. A jail sentence and over $125,000 in compensatory fines were imposed.  
  • Fraudulent use of study permits: CBSA enforcement officers uncovered a scheme whereby unsubsidized private college programs were leading foreign students to a post-graduation work permit (for $25,000) with the sole purpose of acquiring permanent residence. This investigation led, on June 7, 2022, to the decision by the federal and provincial governments to tighten the criteria for granting post-graduation work permits.  
  • Interception leads to the dismantling of a weapon cache in Granby: In November 2021, the CBSA intercepted four .22 calibre barrels at the Montréal International Mail Processing Centre destined for a Granby resident with a criminal history. The investigation initiated by the CBSA was referred to the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) and led to the seizure of several weapons and weapon parts. The individual who was manufacturing homemade (3D printed) firearms for the purpose of trafficking was sentenced on October 5, 2022 by the court to seven years in prison.

Working with Indigenous communities

As part of its Orange Shirt Day and National Day of Truth and Reconciliation activities, the CBSA Quebec Region unveiled a display of objects representing Indigenous culture at the CBSA Long Room at 400 Place D'Youville in Montréal. Some of the pieces are reproductions of tools dating back thousands of years, highlighting the advanced technologies and rich culture that were present here before colonization. The exhibition is intended to highlight the CBSA's recognition of the Indigenous Peoples who have inhabited and protected the territory of Canada and Quebec since time immemorial. Quebec is located on the traditional territories of the Abenaki, Algonquin, Atikamekw, Cree, Innu, Maliseet, Mi'kmaq, Naskapi, Huron-Wendat, Mohawk and Inuit Indigenous Peoples. The exhibition is scheduled to tour the CBSA offices in Quebec.

Related links

Contacts

To request interviews with CBSA spokespersons, please contact:

Media Relations
Canada Border Services Agency
media@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
1-877-761-5945

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