Traffic volumes continue to climb at the border points nearest Estevan according to information gathered by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) while reviewing their January statistics.
The CBSA officials noted a slightly higher volume of traffic at North Portal in January of this year compared with the first month of 2011. The numbers were slightly lower at the Estevan Highway Port (Highway 47), except for commercial truck traffic which was significantly higher.
The North Portal border office saw a 13 per cent increase in the number of travellers, processing 21,460 individuals in January of this year compared with 18,919 in January 2011. These travellers entered Canada in 5,069 light vehicles and 9,826 commercial trucks.
At the Estevan Highway Port, the individual count was down slightly from 4,080 in January last year to 3,746 this year, a decrease of nearly nine per cent. The commercial truck traffic there continued to rise, border officials said, with the truck movement up nearly 400 per cent to 518 vehicles compared with just 120 at this port last January.
Border officials again provided some highlight information regarding people who were penalized or refused entry into Canada for a variety of reasons.
The officers at North Portal refused entry to 59 people. Nine of those refusals were due to the fact the person had serious criminal records while another 20 had shown some degree of criminality. Another 30 were refused entry for various reasons including being non-genuine visitors.
At the Estevan Highway Port, six people were refused entry during the month of January and they were all due to the fact they had criminal records.
On the first day of the new year, a commercial driver arrived at North Portal seeking entry into Canada to deliver a load, but during examination it was discovered that this United States resident had been convicted of kidnapping plus two counts of armed robbery. He was refused entry.
On Jan. 11, a resident of Michigan entered Canada with the intent of delivering a travel trailer. Customs officials discovered an undeclared loaded .357 rifle in a tool box and a second undeclared loaded .357 handgun in the backseat area of the truck he was driving. This person was placed under arrest for smuggling firearms. The guns were seized along with the vehicle which was later released back to the traveller after he paid a $1,000 penalty. The guns were retained by CBSA officials and the man was refused entry into Canada.
On Jan. 14, a commercial truck driver sought entry into Canada at North Portal. A background check revealed the California resident had been convicted of impaired driving causing serious bodily harm to five victims. He too, was refused entry into Canada.
The next day, a Saskatchewan resident returning home after an absence of nearly one month declared $1,000 in goods and a vehicle. During the secondary examination border officials uncovered several undeclared goods, namely a $1,228 laptop computer, nearly $600 in baby clothing, several purses and other goods valued at another $577 and some adult clothing value at just under $164. All the goods were seized as well as the vehicle. A penalty was then administered in the amount of $1,177.11 which was paid before the goods were returned plus another penalty of $435 for the return of the vehicle. If everything had been declared properly, the resident would have merely paid an additional $258.84 for duties and taxes on the undeclared goods that they had attempted to bring in.
On Jan. 18, a Saskatchewan resident returning home declared a motorhome purchased in the United States for $6,000 plus $1,000 in building supplies. During a secondary examination it was found that the motorhome had actually been purchased for $16,000, not $6,000. The motorhome was seized and later returned to the purchaser after they paid a $5,572.60 penalty. Had the declaration been made truthfully, the purchaser would have only been charged an additional $500 in duties and taxes on the motorhome.
Jan. 19 saw a North Dakota resident seeking entry into Canada with the intention of visiting Estevan for one day, but during the examination it was found that this person had been convicted of aggravated assault on two separate occasions plus he had been charged with impaired driving. He was refused entry.
On Jan. 29, a commercial carrier attempted to enter Canada to deliver a piano that was declared with a value of $4,000. The secondary exam was conducted and the real value of the piano was assessed at more than the declared amount. Further examination revealed that the importer had actually paid $8,000 for the piano, so it was seized and returned to the importer only after a $4,402.97 penalty was paid. Had the declaration been made honestly, the additional amount that would have been paid in duties and taxes would have amounted to $620.
Once again CBSA officials remind Canadians who make online purchases to have the goods shipped to a United States address for pickup, to print out their online receipt and bring it with them to use upon their return to Canada. The officials noted that not all shippers in the U.S. will send a receipt with the product and that information is necessary for proper processing of items at the border.
Anyone with further questions concerning CBSA activities is invited to contact them at 1-800-461-9999.
