The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is pleased to share a sample of its first quarter highlights (January to March) from its various operations in Edmonton, including airport, commercial, and inland operations. This sampling underscores the CBSA’s commitment to keeping communities safe and ensuring our laws are respected.
This quarter, the CBSA was nominated for a 2014 Quantum Leap Award from the United Way Alberta Capital Region for nearly tripling Edmonton employees’ previous year’s donations to the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign in October 2014.
In a two-day span last March, Detector Dog Max helped detect over $70,000 in undeclared currency from travellers. Max showed an interest in a cardboard box that contained undeclared food and a further search led officers to US$30,000 in undeclared cash. The following day, Max indicated on bags on a luggage cart, and officers found an apple and more than the equivalent of Can$43,500 in undeclared cash. In addition to the currency seizures, Max found prohibited food, plant and animal products including prohibited lamb lard from Iceland and prohibited duck meat from Asia.
On March 17, CBSA officers removed an individual to Central America. The man had over 30 criminal convictions including break and enter, assault with a weapon, and impaired/disqualified driving. The man was deemed a danger to the public in Canada and is permanently barred from returning. This quarter, officers removed 71 individuals, including 13 for criminality.
This quarter officers intercepted eight litres of a precursor chemical used to make the date rape drug. On February 15, officers intercepted a parcel declared as cinnamaldehyde containing three litres of the substance. On March 9, officers intercepted another four litres of the substance declared as a “tbs buffer” in unmarked white plastic bottles. On March 19, a third suspicious parcel was intercepted and declared as one litre of white colorant. In all three cases officers sent samples to the CBSA lab for analysis and the results indicated the substance was gamma-butyrolactone (GBL). The investigations are ongoing.
On March 21, CBSA officers examined a returning Canadian and discovered 200 grams of the controlled narcotics naproxen and metformin, and $19,650 of undeclared currency. The man had an irregular routing and made inconsistent statements regarding his travels. The man was unable to provide proof the currency was legitimate. Charges are pending.
Quick Facts
- There were 290,055 travellers and 2,544 flights.
- 2,096 travellers used the NEXUS kiosk to enter Canada.
- Officers completed 144 permanent resident landings, and issued 651 work permits, and 42 study permits.
- Officers refused entry to 35 foreign nationals for criminality or other reasons; six people were arrested for smuggling – one was arrested on an outstanding warrant.
- Officers made eight seizures of undeclared currency totaling $191,460.57.
- Officers made 20 drug seizures which yielded 17,318.7 grams, 662 doses, and 6,560 ml of drugs.
- Officers made two child pornography seizures.
- Officers made 16 significant seizures of food, plant and animal products from international travellers.
- There were 227,646 cargo and courier shipments.
Associated Links
Trusted Traveller programs: NEXUS and FAST
Recruitment – Become a CBSA officer
Contact
Media Relations
Canada Border Services Agency
PrairieMedia@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
1-844-245-2272
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Photo
Narcotics and undeclared currency seized by the CBSA on March 21 at Edmonton airport.
