Pubdate: Sat, 28 Apr 2012
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2012 The Ottawa Citizen
Contact: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Mark Brownlee, With files from Catharine Tunney Page E3

FUR COATS, BRASS KNUCKLES AMONG ITEMS SEIZED AT AIRPORT

Number Of Items Confiscated Down Overall, But Drugs Remain Consistent,
CBSA Says

Switchblades, brass knuckles and illegal drugs like crack cocaine were
among the more than $300,000 worth of items seized from travellers at
the Ottawa International Airport in 2011, newly released documents
show.

Border guards working for the federal government seized items from 132
different people in total.

Less high-profile items were taken as well, including fur coats,
footwear and household products.

The Citizen obtained the documents showing the seizures, known as
Seizure Details Reports, under the federal Access to Information Act.

The guards confiscated various drugs, including coca leaves, marijuana
and $114 worth of steroids, the records show. One traveller lost
$1,000 worth of crack cocaine at the airport on Oct. 22.

Another traveller had $750 worth of child pornography taken on May
25.

A federal government department, the Canada Border Services Agency, is
responsible for seizing items from people who are passing back into
Canada. Illegal items like the child porn and drugs are seized with no
terms of release.

The number of overall seizures has decreased at the Macdonald- Cartier
International Airport compared with the last few years, said Caroline
Desjardins with the CBSA. In 2010, there were 177 seizures and in 2009
there were 156 cases.

While seizures are down overall, the number of seizures involving
narcotics and drugs remain consistent, said Desjardins. They are among
the top goods seized in Ottawa.

The agency then passes the matter on to Ottawa police or the RCMP to
investigate or lay charges. The seizures can help identify emerging
trends or alert police to something criminal that's afoot.

"It can lead to a larger investigation because you can have an initial
seizure that happens that leads to an arrest and criminal charges,"
said Staff Sgt. Shaun Brabazon of the Ottawa police airport section.

Policing at the airport is important, Brabazon said, since it is one
of the key ways to keep illegal weapons and drugs off the streets of
Ottawa.

Restricted items become property of the Crown and the CBSA is
responsible for their custody and care. Things like food, plants,
alcohol and cigarettes are destroyed, while the fur coat or the
collection of shoes could end up at auction through the department of
Public Works and Government Services.

Other items were seized but returned when the travellers agreed to pay
the fee to get them back.

One traveller brought back $1,800 worth of groceries on March 6 only
to have them seized at the airport. They then had to pay another
$454.60 to get them back. 
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