The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is pleased to share a sample of its second-quarter highlights (April to June 2015) from its operations in Regina and Saskatoon, including airport, commercial and inland operations. This sampling underscores the CBSA’s commitment to keeping communities safe and ensuring Canada’s laws are respected.
On April 17, CBSA officers at the Regina International Airport arrested a 26-year-old male Saskatchewan traveller after uncovering suspected child pornography on his phone. Before he was released, officers turned the evidence over to the Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation Unit for further investigation.
On May 14 at the Saskatoon International Airport, CBSA officers were processing a 25-year-old foreign national seeking entry to work in Prince Albert and determined he had convictions for driving under the influence and grand larceny. Because the criminality made him inadmissible to Canada, officers refused him entry and he left on an outbound flight.
On May 20, CBSA officers at the Regina International Airport seized 100 ml of suspected steroids from a man residing in the United States. The traveller presented a prescription, but it did not match the contents of the vial, which were suspected to be Drostanolone, an anabolic steroid.
On May 21 at the Regina International Airport, CBSA officers seized a sawfish rostrum from a Saskatchewan man returning from Australia. Freshwater sawfish is an endangered species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and is listed as vulnerable under Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. The case was turned over to Environment Canada for further investigation.
On May 27, Regina CBSA officers participated in the Regina Police Service Showcase at the Brandt Centre to educate students and community members on the CBSA’s law enforcement role. Visitors had the opportunity to view drug kits and some of the items seized by the CBSA in Regina such as CITES products. 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.
On June 6 at the Saskatoon International Airport, a 39-year-old United States man arrived to go hunting. However, CBSA officers determined he had two driving-under-the-influence convictions and two possession-of-marijuana convictions. Officers refused him entry to Canada for criminal inadmissibility and he left on an outbound flight.
On June 14, CBSA officers at the Regina International Airport referred a foreign national who was coming as a visitor and said she would not be working in Canada. However, officers contacted her friend who confirmed she was indeed coming to work. Officers therefore refused her entry, and she boarded an outbound flight the following day.
On June 17 at the Regina International Airport, CBSA officers seized $11,800 in currency, the majority of which was in Canadian funds. A 62-year-old United States man was referred for further examination, and had not declared currency of $10,000 or more. When officers searched his suitcase, however, they found a stack of bills. The man also produced another stack of bills that was on his person. Officers returned the undeclared currency after the man paid a $250 penalty for not making a truthful declaration.
On June 29, CBSA officers at the Regina International Airport referred a United States man who was entering Canada to provide training. Officers conducted background checks, and found he had previously been arrested for being a fugitive, failure to appear, possession of narcotics, possession of counterfeit currency, simple battery, and assault. Officers refused him entry and he left Canada the next day.
Quick Facts
- In the second quarter of the year, there were 42,725 travellers and 647 international flights.
- Officers completed 14 permanent resident landings, and issued 115 work permits and three study permits.
- Officers refused entry to 18 foreign nationals for criminality or other reasons.
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
