Staff
Canada Border Services Agency officers at the Fort Frances port of entry processed 108,298 travellers in 50,272 vehicles in June, representing a 4.3 percent increase in travellers and a 4.8 percent increase in vehicles compared to June, 2011.
Eighty-six charter buses carrying 782 passengers, 564 commercial trucks, and 1,834 pedestrians also were processed during June.
During June, CBSA officers conducted more than 1,600 secondary examinations for customs purposes, initiated 15 seizure actions, and issued an additional 32 written warnings for non-declared or under-valued goods.
On June 30, a returning Canadian resident imported a 1998 watercraft with a declared value of $2,000 (U.S.)
Upon further examination, however, it was discovered the watercraft actually had been purchased for $3,000 (U.S.)
The watercraft was seized for under-valuation and returned to the individual upon payment of a $504.45 penalty.
Had the full value of the watercraft been properly declared, it would have cost just $130 in additional HST.
On June 10, a U.S. resident was referred for a secondary examination, which resulted in the seizure of four non-restricted long guns and 2.23 kg of tobacco.
When asked why he did not declare the firearms, the traveller stated he did not think he had to because the long gun registry no longer is in effect in Canada.
The firearms were returned to him upon payment of a penalty in the amount of $1,110.68.
The tobacco was seized with no terms of release.
The individual was allowed to enter Canada.
Meanwhile, CBSA officers here also conducted more than 3,000 immigration interviews, resulting in the issuance of 53 work permits, seven visitor records, and 523 Remote Area Border Crossing permits.
A total of 135 people were found to have various admissibility issues, of which 65 were given the option of voluntarily withdrawing their application to enter Canada and were allowed to leave.
The other 70 were allowed entry on a temporary visitor permit.
On June 19, a U.S. resident arrived at the Fort Frances POE seeking entry under the Tourism Facilitation Action Plan.
However, he was not eligible for a Temporary Resident Permit because he had been convicted of an alcohol-related vehicular homicide.
He was allowed to withdraw his application to enter Canada and he returned to the United States.
On June 8, a U.S. resident travelling to Vermilion Bay, Ont. was allowed to withdraw his application to enter Canada after it was discovered he was a member of a criminal organization in the United States.
CBSA officers reported him as being inadmissible for being a member of an organized crime group and he returned to the United States.
On June 1, a U.S. resident was referred to Immigration to determine his admissibility to Canada.
Database queries showed he had a lengthy criminal history in the United States, including three convictions for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, four convictions for driving with a suspended license, possession of a controlled substance, possession of an illegally-obtained prescription, disorderly conduct, and one probation violation.
He was allowed to withdraw his application to enter Canada and he returned to the United States.
The following day, another U.S. resident with a lengthy criminal record was seeking entry to Canada.
A background check revealed he had previous convictions for burglary, theft, possession of a controlled substance, manufacturing or delivering narcotics, and operating a firearm while intoxicated.
The individual was allowed to withdraw his application to enter Canada and he returned to the United States.
