Pubdate: Wed, 16 Feb 2005 Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 The Vancouver Sun Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477 Author: Maurice Bridge Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) ILLEGAL DRUGS TOP LIST OF CUSTOMS SEIZURES IN '04 Drug Seizures In Pacific Region Totalled 2,174; Unreported Currency Was Second At 732 Drug seizures topped the list of prohibited and restricted items apprehended by the Canada Border Services Agency at entry points in the Pacific region in 2004. A total of 2,174 drug seizures came up with more than 506 kilograms of drugs, including approximately 320 kilos of cocaine, 15 kilos of heroin, 47 kilos of marijuana, 20 kilos of opium, 149,000 doses of steroids and 10,000 doses of ecstasy. Currency seizures ranked second, with more than $18 million in unreported currency in 732 separate seizures. In addition, the CBSA made 465 weapons seizures, resulting in the confiscation of more than 4,000 weapons. They included 692 firearms -- handguns, shotguns, rifles, and semi-automatic pistols -- 2,536 switchblades and other knives, as well as hundreds of blow guns, crossbows, brass knuckles, grenades, stun-guns and tear gas. Also high on the list of seized objects were prohibited plant material, meat and poultry products and animal byproducts. The agriculture unit of the CBSA, which is based at Vancouver International Airport, made 20,319 inspections, resulting in 10,424 interceptions, which resulted in 1,439 enforcement actions. CBSA officials showed off a number of their seizures Tuesday, including a large number of cigarettes, at the customs mail centre in Vancouver. "Some of the items we see at the customs mail centre are tobacco products in cans of Pringles potato chips, and we also find large quantities of tobacco concealed in ottomans and other large pieces of furniture," said mail centre chief Mike Hryciuk. "As well, some of the cigarettes are concealed in Tupperware containers that have tinfoil in there to try to evade tools we use at the mail centre like X-ray technology, but the X-ray technology is able to pick them out." Other trophies included illegal steroids, replica handguns, two .45-calibre semiautomatic weapons and a number of animal products, including giant clamshells, snakeskin boots and restricted packaged meats from Asia. Hryciuk said the number of seizures remained constant with those of previous years, with the exception of narcotics. "What we have seen in 2004 was a significant increase in some of the high-risk narcotics such as cocaine and heroin in the Pacific region," he said. He said the seized goods will be destroyed. The seized money will ultimately go into general revenue for the federal government. On the enforcement side, agency prosecutions resulted in fines totalling just over $500,000, as well as other sentences including jail time. In some cases, the agency proceeded with civil legal actions, which resulted in additional fines of more than $300,000. Investigations also resulted in 1,700 individuals, including 325 criminals, being removed from Canada during the calendar year. Criminal removals were up from 261 the previous year. Most of those removed for non-criminal reasons were failed refugee applicants. In addition, border security officers made 1,415 arrests. On The Border: Enforcement in the Pacific region in 2004 Canada Border Services Agency staff: more than 1,539 Regional land, air and marine ports of entry: 43 Travellers processed: over 18 million Vehicles processed: nearly six million Commercial releases processed: more than 1.5 million Pieces of mail handled: nearly six million Drug seizures: 2,174 Cocaine: 320 kilos Heroin: 15 kilos Marijuana: 47 kilos Opium: 20 kilos Ecstasy: 10,000 doses Steroids: 149,000 doses Weapon Seizures: 465 Firearms: 692 Knives: 2,536 Currency Seizures: 732 Dollar value: More than $18 million Recovered children: 16 Immigration violations: 3,350 Removals: 1,700, including 325 criminals. Agricultural inspections: 20,319 Arrests: 1,415 Outstanding Warrants: 115 Stolen Property: 22 Impaired: 233 Immigration: 1,045 Total Criminal Fines: $516,221 Total civil fines: $301,786 - --- MAP posted-by: Beth