The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) continues to protect communities by securing Saskatchewan’s land border crossings and seizing firearms. Last month, CBSA officers took specific actions in the interest of child safety.
On May 16, North Portal officers referred an Alberta man for further examination. They searched a laptop and uncovered images of suspected child pornography. The man was arrested and referred to the Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation Unit. This was the third suspected child pornography seizure made at North Portal this year.
That same day, officers at the Estevan Highway border crossing refused entry to a 51-year-old North Dakota man for criminality, as he had admitted to a conviction for continuous sexual assault of a child. At North Portal on May 5, officers turned back a 47-year-old male commercial driver from Colorado. In addition to kidnapping, his convictions included assault with a weapon and attempted homicide.
In recognition of National Missing Children’s Day on May 25, CBSA officers at North Portal shared information with travelling families about preventing child abduction. CBSA officers are always on the lookout for missing children, and may ask detailed questions when travellers are entering Canada with minors.
On May 20, CBSA officers kept a prohibited handgun from making its way into the country. A Georgia man was travelling to Alaska, and North Portal officers referred him for further examination. They searched the vehicle and noticed a .380-calibre pistol inside. The traveller was arrested but allowed to continue into Canada after forfeiting the firearm. He is scheduled to appear in Estevan Provincial Court on July 13 and CBSA charges are pending.
At the Regway border crossing that same day, officers arrested a Saskatchewan man and woman on alleged drug-related offences as they returned to Canada. Officers also seized prohibited brass knuckles and a can of pepper spray from the man before turning both travellers over to Weyburn RCMP. Regway CBSA officers also turned back two travellers with serious criminality on May 16. A 29-year-old male California commercial driver had convictions for assault with serious injury and battery with serious injury, while a 42-year-old Montana man had convictions for deliberate homicide, assault, and criminal trespassing.
On May 9, a 53-year-old North Dakota man arrived at the Oungre border crossing while travelling to a Saskatchewan casino. CBSA officers turned him back because he had convictions for assault, carjacking, evading police, and assault with a deadly weapon. On May 24, a 53-year-old Washington man was also returned to the United States at Oungre because he had convictions for many serious offences, namely aggravated assault, vehicular assault under the influence, and domestic violence.
The CBSA is now hiring future border services officers to work at border crossings across the country through the Agency’s officer trainee selection process. To learn more about what it takes to become an officer, please visit the CBSA’s job opportunities page.
Quick Facts
- On average, CBSA officers in southern Saskatchewan process 51,600 travellers in 18,500 vehicles, 14,200 commercial trucks, and 250 permanent resident landings per month.
- In May 2015, officers in southern Saskatchewan made 22 seizures of suspected drugs, undeclared firearms, undervalued purchases, and other items. On average, they refuse entry to 75 foreign nationals per month for criminality or other reasons.
Associated Links
Be Ready – Become a CBSA officer
Recommended consent letter for children travelling abroad
Planning to Bring Firearms to Canada?
Be Aware – Poultry ban in effect
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Contact
Luke Reimer, Media Relations
Canada Border Services Agency
PrairieMedia@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
204-983-2537
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