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Border crossings remain hubs of activity

At North Portal, the largest port of entry in Saskatchewan, there were about 27,550 travellers in 8,150 cars and 11,300 commercial trucks processed in the month of May.


At North Portal, the largest port of entry in Saskatchewan, there were about 27,550 travellers in 8,150 cars and 11,300 commercial trucks processed in the month of May. Canadian Border Security Agency (CBSA) officers issued 81 work permits, two study permits and granted permanent residency status to 338 people. They also denied entry to 36 foreign nationals for various reasons, including 26 for serious criminality.

Here is a collection of noted incidents at Saskatchewan port of entry in May:

North Portal Port

On May 1, officers conducted background checks on a 44-year-old Arkansas man travelling to Alaska. The checks revealed that he had a lengthy criminal past, including convictions for burglary, breaking and entering, two counts of forgery, domestic assault, assault, obstruction of a peace officer and two counts of impaired driving. The man was refused entry to Canada and returned to the United States.

On May 7, a couple moving to Alaska declared no prohibited weapons and "just a folding knife." Officers examined their vehicle and uncovered a prohibited switchblade in the glove box. They also conducted an X-ray of the man's duffle bags, which revealed eight overcapacity 30-round gun magazines. Officers issued the man a penalty of $500 and seized all the contraband with no terms of release. The couple was then allowed entry into Canada.

On May 8, a 25-year-old Wisconsin man was refused entry for previous convictions including a serious assault causing bodily harm, theft and criminal damage to property. He returned to the United States.

On May 15, two Tennessee men travelling to Alaska in a truck and travel trailer were referred for further examination. Officers found a loaded semi-automatic .380-calibre pistol in the back of the trailer. The prohibited firearm also contained a prohibited overcapacity 13-round magazine. Officers arrested the driver, who claimed ownership of the undeclared weapon. They released him and returned him to the United States after he paid a $1,000 penalty.

That same day, a truck driver was seeking entry into Canada. The man had been previously removed from Canada and barred for a one-year period, as he had previously tried to enter using false identification. This time, however, he was refused entry to Canada due to past criminal convictions, including theft and multiple convictions for domestic violence.

On May 18, a Saskatchewan man declared $6,600 in goods, including a boat he valued at $5,000 and a boat trailer of about $1,000, both of which he had purchased through a friend. Officers determined he had actually paid $8,500 for the boat and $1,350 for the trailer. He was issued a penalty of $2,300. If he had made an accurate declaration on these two items, he would have paid $500 in goods and services tax (GST).

On May 22, a man was moving back to Alberta from the United States. He declared four cans of chewing tobacco but said he had no weapons or overcapacity magazines. Officers conducted an examination of the man's pickup truck and uncovered a prohibited switchblade knife near the driver's seat and 19 overcapacity magazines inside a container in the truck's box. Officers arrested the man, who told officers he did not declare the contraband because he didn't want to be delayed at the border. They issued him a penalty of $1,000 before he was released, and he continued into Canada.

On May 24, officers refused entry to a 28-year-old Alaska man after he admitted that he had been convicted of a serious assault and multiple thefts. The traveller also had domestic assault charges on his record. He was returned to the United States.

On May 25, a man and woman returning home to Alaska declared no prohibited weapons or devices. Officers examined their SUV and uncovered a can of prohibited pepper spray in the centre console. They paid a $500 penalty and continued into Canada.

On May 25, an Alberta man declared a horse trailer at $6,000. Officers conducted a secondary examination when the man admitted he had actually paid $16,000 and asked the seller to produce a false bill of sale. He was issued a penalty of $6,000; if he had been truthful, he would have paid $875 in GST on the trailer.

On May 28, officers arrested Rachel Scanlon Pasag, a 33-year-old U.S. resident, for attempting to smuggle two handguns into Canada: a prohibited .380-calibre semi-automatic handgun and a prohibited 9mm semi-automatic handgun. Officers arrested her, and she appeared in court the next day and pled guilty to smuggling contrary to section 159 of the Customs Act. A Regina Provincial Court judge sentenced her to one-day incarceration (time served) and ordered her to pay a $2,000 fine.

On May 29, a man and woman were returning home to Alaska and declared a can of bear spray. Officers uncovered a prohibited butterfly knife in a watertight case during a secondary examination, and the man claimed ownership, saying he had forgotten about it. Moments later, officers found a second butterfly knife concealed within the same container. The man was issued a $1,000 penalty and the weapons were seized with no terms of release. The travellers were then allowed entry into Canada.

On May 31, an Alberta man and woman declared wooden bear statues at $1,300 and presented a bill of sale. During an examination, the woman admitted to officers she had paid $3,275. Officers issued her a penalty of $1,175; if she had made an accurate declaration, she would have paid $175 in GST.

Estevan Highway Port

On May 3, a North Dakota man was refused entry due to recent criminal convictions for assault and impaired driving. The traveller returned to the United States.

On May 18, a 34-year-old man working in North Dakota was travelling to Estevan for the day. The man admitted he had been convicted of selling a large quantity of narcotics. The traveller was refused entry to Canada.

On May 24, a traveller from California was refused entry at North Portal due to criminal convictions including carrying a loaded firearm in a public place, impaired driving and mischief. After returning to the United States, the man attempted to gain entry at the Estevan Highway port. The traveller's identification was flagged, and he was again refused entry by officers. The man was cautioned about serious consequences if he attempted again to seek entry while inadmissible.

Oungre Port

On May 12, a 29-year-old man travelling to Alaska told officers that he had been convicted of three separate counts of impaired driving. The man was criminally inadmissible and was refused entry into Canada.

On May 24, a 40-year-old Alaska man was refused entry to Canada after a background check indicated that he had been convicted of a serious assault causing injury, theft and domestic violence. The man was criminally inadmissible and returned to the United States.

Regway Port

On May 3, a Saskatchewan man told officers he was in the United States for a few hours to pick up parcels containing car parts, which he declared at $1,900. He also declared 30 cans of beer. While examining his pickup truck, officers uncovered three boxes with car parts he had not declared, along with an accompanying $2,050 invoice. Officers issued the man a penalty of $600. If he had declared the extra parts, he would have paid $125 in GST.

Carievale Port

On May 11, two Saskatchewan men were returning from a shopping day trip in North Dakota. They declared $250 in goods and 48 cans of beer. Officers conducted a secondary examination of their pickup truck and uncovered a gas can containing 21 litres of undeclared rum. One of the men claimed he had brought it from Canada but eventually admitted to purchasing the rum in the United States and throwing away the bottles. Officers seized the undeclared rum with no terms of release, and issued a penalty of $210.

Anyone with information about suspicious cross-border activity, please contact the CBSA Border Watch Toll-Free Line at 1-888-502-9060. For information on the CBSA, please call the Border Information Service at 1-800-461-9999.