Press Release
Several seizures
also were made
In September, Canada Border Services Agency officers at the Fort Frances port of entry processed more than 96,000 travellers in 46,000 vehicles and 986 commercial trucks.
Thirty-two charter buses and 1,700 pedestrians also were processed during the month.
As well, the CBSA conducted more than 1,500 secondary examinations for Customs purposes.
Meanwhile, officers here conducted more than 2,500 immigration interviews, resulting in the issuance of 13 work permits, 34 visitor records, and 143 Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) permits.
Fifty-eight individuals were found to have various admissibility issues, of which 42 were refused entry to Canada.
The other 16 were allowed entry on a temporary visitor permit.
On Sept. 3, two U.S. residents arrived at the Fort Frances port of entry and stated their intention was to go on a fishing trip and stay at a private cabin.
During a routine examination of their vehicle, officers discovered undeclared building materials and tools. Furthermore, the individuals did not have any fishing gear with them.
Both individuals work as carpenters in the United States, and they admitted they were coming to Canada to do some work on the cabin.
They were refused entry to Canada as they were not in possession of valid work permits and did not meet the criteria to be issued one at the port of entry.
On Sept. 4, a U.S. resident was refused entry to Canada for serious criminality.
He had convictions for criminal sexual conduct in the second degree with a child and failing to comply with his conditions in regards to the sex offender registry.
He previously had been denied entry to Canada on two other occasions.
On Sept. 10, a U.S. resident arrived at the Fort Frances port of entry on a bicycle with all of his worldly possessions.
His stated intention was to travel to Winnipeg.
Routine background checks revealed the individual had criminal convictions in at least 10 different states.
He, too, previously had been denied entry to Canada.
And on Sept. 12, a U.S. resident from Texas was referred for an immigration interview after declaring his intention to rent an apartment in Fort Frances and take up residency.
During the interview, the individual explained that he supported himself by playing online poker.
The individual stated he was financially independent but was unable to prove he had funds to support himself while in Canada, nor could he prove he had employment or a residence to go back to in the United States.
He was refused entry as a non-bona fide visitor.
Customs
In September, CBSA officers conducted more than 1,500 secondary examinations for Customs purposes, initiated 13 seizure actions, and issued an additional 15 written warnings for non-declared or undervalued goods.
On Sept. 9, a returning Canadian resident imported a boat, motor, and trailer package which he declared as having a value of $14,000 (U.S.)
Officers found an ad on the Internet for the same boat with an asking price of $22,000 (U.S.)
During the interview, the individual admitted he actually had paid $20,500 (U.S.) for the package and said he declared a lower value in order to save on import taxes.
The boat, motor, and trailer were seized for undervaluation and released back to the individual upon payment of more than $3,500 in penalties.
Had the full value been properly declared, the taxes payable would have been roughly $845.
On Sept. 10, two Canadian residents returning from an overnight trip to Minnesota were referred for a secondary examination.
At primary, the couple declared $200 worth of goods that were being imported.
The female traveller provided several receipts which accounted for the declared goods; however, upon opening the trunk of the vehicle, the officers noted several bags of goods that were not accounted for on the receipts.
In total, roughly $370 worth of undeclared clothing and miscellaneous items were discovered.
The goods were seized for non-report and returned to the individuals upon payment of $251 in penalties.
And on Sept. 16, two Nevada residents arrived at Fort Frances seeking entry to Canada for a two-week trip.
They were referred for a secondary examination and during the examination of their motor home, officers discovered more than 20 litres of undeclared wine and tequila.
The undeclared alcohol was seized with no terms of release, and the individuals were allowed to enter Canada without further penalties.
