THUNDER BAY – Crimebeat – CBSA officers at the Pigeon River port of entry (POE) processed 34,519 travelers in 16,792 vehicles, representing a 3.5 percent increase in travelers and a six percent increase in vehicle traffic compared to January 2012. In addition, officers processed 580 commercial drivers.
CBSA – Immigration Highlights
In January, CBSA officers at the Pigeon River POE conducted 201 immigration examinations which resulted in the issuance of 17 immigration documents (such as work permits, study permits and temporary resident permits). Three individuals were allowed to withdraw their application to enter Canada due to criminality.
On January 22, a U.S. resident arrived at the POE seeking temporary entry to work in Ontario. The individual did not possess any documentation regarding the nature of the work he would be performing in Canada, including a Labour Market Opinion. He was allowed to withdraw his application to enter Canada and he returned to the United States.
On January 30, a U.S. resident en route to the Thunder Bay International Airport was referred for an immigration examination. During the interview, officers discovered that the traveler had twice been convicted of operating a motor vehicle while impaired in the United States. The individual admitted that he had been counselled on how to apply for individual rehabilitation when he was last denied entry to Canada but he did not take the officer’s advice. He was once again given the option of voluntarily withdrawing his application to enter Canada due to his criminality and he returned to the United States.
Customs Highlights
During the month of January, CBSA officers conducted 1,056 secondary examinations for customs purposes or on behalf of other government departments, initiated four seizure actions for various offences and issued an additional six written warnings for undeclared or improperly reported goods.
On January 1, two Canadian residents arrived at the POE and one of the travelers declared a 2010 all-terrain vehicle (ATV) purchased in the United States. The traveler stated that the purchase price for the ATV was US$4,500. Officers referred the traveler for further customs processing and conducted a secondary examination to confirm the value of the vehicle.
During the examination, officers performed an Internet search and found a seemingly matching advertisement with an asking price of US$8,500. During the subsequent interview, the traveler admitted that the total transaction value for the ATV was US$8,500. The ATV was seized for the allegation of undervaluation and was released back to the individual upon payment of the terms of release amounting to $2,188.78. Had he declared the ATV at its proper purchase price, he would have paid approximately $422.83 in taxes.
Travel Tips
The CBSA reminds all travelers to truthfully declare all purchases and goods, including firearms and weapons. Smuggling, undervaluation and other Customs Act offences may lead to seizure and/or prosecution in a court of law.
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.
Anyone with information about suspicious cross-border activity is encouraged to call the CBSA Border Watch toll-free line at 1-888-502-9060. All calls are completely confidential.
About the CBSA
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) facilitates the entry of legitimate travelers and goods, while protecting the safety and security of Canadians and ensuring that Canada’s borders are not used for illegal activity. This work is carried out by CBSA border services officers who ensure that the people, goods and conveyances entering Canada meet all requirements and are compliant with Canadian law.
