The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today that on June 2, 2015, border services officers with the Marine Enforcement Team at the Bedwell Harbour port of entry seized 58 grams of suspected marijuana; two prohibited handguns and 19 undeclared bottles of alcohol from a fishing vessel arriving from Seattle, Washington, USA.
CBSA’s Marine Enforcement Team referred the traveller and his vessel to secondary examination, where officers discovered the contraband hidden in the vessel underneath the floor boards of the engine room, within drawers of the staterooms and under a seating area. The traveller was arrested and referred to CBSA’s Criminal Investigations Section.
The vessel was seized and then released on payment of a penalty of $2596.76.
Anyone with information about suspicious cross-border activity is encouraged to call the CBSA Border Watch toll-free line at 1-888-502-9060.
Quick Facts
- Over a five-year period, from 2010, CBSA’s Marine Enforcement Team has seized:
- 24 undeclared prohibited handguns;
- 14 undeclared restricted and controlled rifles;
- 10 undeclared prohibited weapons;
- 10 undeclared prohibited devices (i.e. overcapacity magazines); and
- 73 illegal drug seizures.
- CBSA officers are Canada’s first line of defense in protecting Canada from illegal weapons and other contraband. The CBSA advises travellers that they are required to declare all goods they are bringing into Canada, including any firearms and weapons. Failure to declare goods, including firearms, and other Customs Act contraventions may lead to prosecution in a court of law.
Quotes
“The CBSA takes its border protection responsibilities very seriously. This case was an excellent example of the work CBSA’s Marine Enforcement Team undertakes to safeguard the safety and security of Canadians.”
- James McEachern, Acting Superintendent, CBSA Marine Enforcement Team
Related Links
Contact
CBSA Media Relations
Vancouver, B.C.
604-818-9701
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