The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is pleased to share its key highlights from Calgary in 2014. Compared to 2013, there was a 7-percent increase in travellers and a 3.8-percent increase in flights entering Canada at the Calgary International Airport: 2.4 million travellers on 25,471 international flights.
In January, officers seized 6.7 kg of heroin from Tanzania that was concealed in sophisticated false bottom suitcases. The accused was sentenced in September to 10 years in prison for the offence. In May, officers intercepted 10 kg of amphetamines concealed in a parcel from China. In total, there were 234 drug seizures yielding 177 kg of drugs carried by travellers or concealed within shipments. The most common drugs were steroids and khat.
In January a young traveller hoped to bring two baby tortoises back home by concealing them in the pockets of his sweatshirt, resulting in seizure of the items and a penalty. In August, 11 U.S. baby turtles, measuring 1.5 inches in diameter, were rescued by officers after they were found alive inside a courier shipment.
In 2014, there were 664 hearings held before the Immigration and Refugee Board, including 199 detention reviews, 261 appeal hearings and intervened in 117 refugee claims. In September, the CBSA successfully intervened in a case of a fraudulent claim for refugee protection. The claimant used false identification to gain entry into Canada and at the hearing he admitted he was untruthful. The man has since been removed to his home country. In 2014, 264 people were deported from the Calgary area, 56 of whom were criminals.
In November, a previous deportee was charged for returning to Canada without authorization after he allegedly obtained new identity documents to gain access to Canada. A court appearance was set for January 12. Two other individuals were convicted in similar fraudulent document cases this year: one man received an 18-month sentence in September, and one woman received a six-month sentence in December.
In December, officers seized over $84,000 in suspected proceeds of crime from a traveller. In 2014, officers seized over $376,000 in suspected proceeds of crime in 20 incidents. This is in addition to the 140 people who failed to declare more than $2 million in currency as required.
Additional Facts
- Officers issued 13,112 work permits and 2,651 study permits; and 8,804 people were landed as permanent residents.
- In 2014, 2.5 million personal courier shipments and 658,425 commercial shipments were cleared in Calgary, representing increases of 20 percent and 111 percent, respectively, over 2013.
- There were 10 suspected child pornography seizures.
- The CBSA’s trade compliance officers in Calgary and Winnipeg completed 343 verifications which resulted in more than $2.8 million in additional duties and taxes owed to the Crown and approximately $13,800 in penalties assessed to importers.
Associated Links
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Contacts
Lisa White
CBSA Media Relations
403-292-4011
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Photo: 6.7 kg of heroin seized in Calgary on January 31, 2014.
