The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has reported the arrest of two individuals earlier this month, uncovering a case of counterfeit Canadian permanent resident and social insurance cards in their possession.
On August 1st, border services officers detained the two men at the Armstrong port of entry, situated southeast of Saint-Théophile, Quebec, and northwest of Jackman, Maine.
The CBSA alleges that its officers made the discovery when they found multiple fraudulent identification cards inside the vehicle as the individuals attempted to cross the border.
In addition to the counterfeit identification, it was revealed that the travelers were carrying an amount of currency exceeding $10,000, which they had failed to report when departing Canada. This non-disclosure constitutes a violation of the “Proceeds of Crime (money laundering) and Terrorist Financial Act,” as stated in a CBSA press release issued on Tuesday.
Maria Bohotineanu, a spokesperson for the CBSA, emphasized the importance of declaring currency at the border, stating in an email to the media on Tuesday that such reporting is critical “to help fight money laundering and terrorist financing.”
While there are no set restrictions on the total amount of money individuals can transport into or out of Canada, border crossers are obligated to declare any currency or monetary instruments valued at CAN$10,000 or more, following CBSA guidelines.
In instances where the complete value is not disclosed, border services can seize the unreported funds. However, in certain cases, the funds can be reclaimed by paying a penalty, ranging from $250 to $5,000.
According to Bohotineanu’s email, “the CBSA will not return the funds if it is suspected that they are the proceeds of crime or funds for financing terrorist activities.”
The CBSA press release clearly stated, “All of these items and the currency were seized with no terms of release.” This underscores the gravity of the situation, suggesting that the detained individuals may face legal consequences for their actions.