The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is pleased to share recent enforcement highlights from the Southern Ontario Region.
On October 8, 2014 a transport truck was referred for a secondary inspection at the Queenston Commercial Operation. Officers discovered two duffel bags and two boxes of duct taped packages with US$1,367,401 of undeclared currency in the vehicle. The men were arrested and the currency was seized as suspected proceed of crime. The men, along with the currency, were turned over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
On October 16, 2014, a U.S. resident was arrested and charged by the CBSA under the Customs Act with making false statements and evading compliance at the Rainbow Bridge port of entry. The traveller was carrying an undeclared loaded handgun on his person, and an additional four undeclared loaded handguns and a double barrel shotgun were also found in his vehicle. The guns were seized and the man was turned over to the Niagara Police Service.
CBSA officers at the Fort Erie Peace Bridge seized eight packages of cocaine packaged in vacuum-sealed bricks weighing 9 kg on August 25, 2014. During the secondary examination, border services officers found the cocaine concealed within the vehicle. A Calgary resident was arrested and turned over to the RCMP.
Quick Facts
- Currency or other monetary instruments valued at Can$10,000 or more that is being imported or exported must be reported to the CBSA.
- Undeclared currency over Can$10,000 can be seized. If an officer suspects on reasonable grounds that the non-reported currency or monetary instruments are proceeds of crime or terrorist finances, the officer may seize the currency with no terms of release.
- Failure to declare goods, including firearms, and other Customs Act contraventions may lead to prosecution in a court of law.
- Anyone found smuggling drugs will be arrested and police will be contacted.
Quote
“Our border services officers are Canada’s first line of defence in protecting Canada. With these seizures, officers in the Southern Ontario Region have kept guns, cocaine and the proceeds of crime from reaching the streets of our communities. Seizures such as these help us to accomplish our priority to preserve the safety and security of Canadians.”
Rick Comerford
Regional Director General, Southern Ontario Region
Associated Links
Cross-border currency reporting
CBSA firearm seizures on the rise in the Southern Ontario Region
Fact Sheet: Planning to Bring Firearms to Canada?
To Report Border-Related Criminal Activity
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Contacts
Southern Ontario Media Relations
CBSA-ASFC_SouthernOntarioRegionNews@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
Media Line: 844-580-3636
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