FORT FRANCES – Crime News – The Fort Frances port of entry (POE) processed 57,567 travellers in 32,893 vehicles, which represents a 6.3-percent increase in travellers and an 8.2‑percent increase in vehicles compared to November 2011. Nine charter buses carrying 315 passengers, 670 commercial trucks, and 600 pedestrians were processed during the month. In November 2012, CBSA officers were busy with that increased border traffic.
Fort Frances Point of Entry Immigration highlights
During the month of November, officers at the Fort Frances POE conducted more than 1,400 immigration interviews resulting in the issuance of one work permit, four visitor records and one Remote Area Border Crossing permit. Twenty-eight people were found to have various admissibility issues, of which 13 were given the option of voluntarily withdrawing their application to enter Canada. The remaining 15 were allowed entry on a temporary visitor permit.
On November 2, a U.S. resident was seeking entry to go on a hunting trip in Northwestern Ontario. During routine background checks conducted as part of the process for issuing a temporary non-resident firearms license, officers discovered that the individual had been convicted of aggravated assault and malicious destruction of personal property in the United States. The individual was deemed inadmissible to Canada for serious criminality and he returned to the United States.
On November 9, another U.S. resident was deemed inadmissible to Canada for serious criminality. This individual was travelling to Fort Frances for the day. Background checks revealed a lengthy criminal record spanning 20 years, with convictions for a multitude of offenses including robbery, kidnapping, assault causing bodily harm, drug possession and trafficking, and various probation violations. He was reported as being inadmissible and returned to the United States.
On November 22, a foreign national on a U.S. study visa sought entry to Canada with some college friends. However, he was not in possession of a valid visa for travel to Canada and was given the option of voluntarily withdrawing his application to enter Canada. The individual and he friends returned to the United States.
Customs highlights
During the month of November, CBSA officers conducted over 2,400 secondary examinations for customs purposes, initiated six seizure actions and issued an additional five written warnings for non-declared or undervalued goods.
On November 1, a U.S. resident arrived at the POE. During a secondary examination of the traveller’s vehicle, officers discovered an undeclared .45 calibre pistol in a plastic tote. The pistol was seized with no terms of release, and the traveller was arrested for smuggling a restricted firearm into Canada. The vehicle was also seized and returned to the traveller upon payment of a $1,000 penalty. The individual was released upon completion of the seizure action.
On November 6, a U.S. resident inadvertently arrived at the POE while attempting to travel to Maine. An examination of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of a 9mm Glock pistol and a .45 caliber Ruger pistol. Both prohibited firearms were loaded at the time of discovery. The pistols were seized with no terms of release, and the vehicle was seized and returned to the traveller upon payment of a $2,000 penalty. The individual was arrested for smuggling firearms into Canada. He was subsequently released and given the option of voluntarily withdrawing his application to enter Canada for committing a crime upon entry. He returned to the United States.
On November 26, a returning Canadian resident arrived at the POE and declared the purchase of a boat, motor, and trailer package for US$2,500. During the completion of the import paperwork, officers became suspicious of the declared value. The same boat package was found listed online for US$7,200, and it was eventually discovered that the importer had paid US$6,400. The boat was seized for undervaluation and released back to the importer upon payment of a penalty in the amount of $2,129.34. Had the true value been declared, the importer would have paid approximately $500 in additional taxes at the border.
Travel Tips: The CBSA reminds travellers to truthfully declare all purchases and goods received outside of Canada upon their return. Smuggling, undervaluation and other Customs Act offences may lead to seizure and/or prosecution in a court of law.
All firearms and weapons must be declared to a border services officer when you enter Canada. Failure to do so could result in them being seized, and you may face criminal charges.
Certain foreign nationals who do not meet the requirements to overcome their criminal inadmissibility may be allowed to enter Canada with a one-time only fee-exempt temporary resident permit. For more information, please visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Web Site.
Anyone with information about suspicious cross-border activity is encouraged to call the CBSA Border Watch toll-free line at 1-888-502-9060.
