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. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D