CBSA seizes eight undeclared firearms, and endangered goods in the West Coast & Yukon District

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is committed to keeping Canada safe from the threats posed by weapons and undeclared food and animal products. Today, the CBSA announced that border services officers seized eight undeclared firearms as well as numerous food, plant and animal products in the West Coast & Yukon District.

On May 25, 2021, two United States residents who were seeking entry to transit through Canada were referred for secondary examination. Border services officers conducted a search and seized firearms and firearm parts and detained food, plant and animal products outlined below:

· Seven restricted firearms

· One prohibited firearm

· 15 prohibited magazines

· Three bobcat skins

· One bear paw

· Two seal skin hats

· Seven pieces of whale baleen

· Two ivory tusks

· Two ivory ornaments

· Two sheep horns

· 13 ivory pucks

· One turkey talon

· One bear skull

· One walrus skull

Most of the detained animal products are protected goods under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Appendix I – III. CITES falls under Canada’s wildlife trade law – the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA).

The traveller who claimed ownership of these goods has been charged with the following:

s. 91(1) Criminal Code – one count of unauthorized possession of a firearm

s. 91(2) Criminal Code – one count of unauthorized possession of prohibited devices

s. 153(a) Customs Act – one count of making false statements

s. 159(1) Customs Act – one count of smuggling

In addition to the charges and having the prohibited items seized, the traveller was issued a $8,500 penalty by CBSA for the release of the seized vehicle. He is scheduled to appear in court on July 13, 2021.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) collected the wildlife items and issued two penalties, with a $1,200 fine, under WAPPRIITA.