Backgrounder
The Southern Ontario Region (SOR) covers the southern portion of Ontario including the cities of Windsor, Sarnia, London, Fort Erie and Niagara Falls, and their surrounding communities. The Region currently employs 1,400 personnel and has seven land borders, two medium sized airports, three ferry crossings, and provides service to 10 small airports and over 150 marine sites. SOR processes high volumes of land border travellers and conveyances and is home to four of the top six busiest traveller land border operations, and the top four busiest commercial land border operations in Canada.
Keeping our communities safe
Overall, the CBSA in Southern Ontario seized approximately 674.29 kg of narcotics. Here are some examples of enforcement actions this year:
On June 15, a commercial truck driven by a Quebec resident crossed at the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie, Ontario, and was referred for a secondary examination. The CBSA discovered and seized approximately 112.5 kg of suspected cocaine inside five duffle bags. The value of this seizure was estimated at $14 million. The driver was arrested and turned over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
On the same day, officers at the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel seized 488 ecstasy pills. A penalty of $10,000 dollars was assessed for the infraction. The suspect was returned to the United States.
On two separate days, August 9 and 31, commercial trucks driven by Ontario residents entered Canada at the Blue Water Bridge in Point Edward, Ontario. On each occasion the trucks were referred and during examination, border services officers discovered and seized a total of approximately 145 kg of suspected cocaine. Both subjects were arrested and turned over to the RCMP.
On August 29, 2021, the CBSA arrested a U.S. traveller at the Ambassador Bridge port of entry in Windsor, Ontario after officers found 18 bricks of suspected cocaine weighing approximately 18 kg. The suspect and narcotics were transferred to the custody of the RCMP.
The CBSA Southern Ontario Region (SOR) seized 166 firearms from January 1 to October 31, 2021. Some examples include:
Two individuals were arrested for failing to declare four firearms and suspected cannabis (marijuana) on April 20 at the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge. The goods were seized and a fine of $6,040 was paid. The individuals were returned to the United States.
Although just outside of the reporting period, on November 1, in addition to the total firearms reported above, an examination at the Blue Water Bridge in Point Edward, Ontario revealed 56 undeclared prohibited firearms,13 over-capacity magazines, 43 ten-round pistol magazines and 100 rounds of ammunition. The subject was arrested and charged by the CBSA.
Facilitating a strong economy
The CBSA in the Southern Ontario Region processed 2,620,820 trucks (commercial conveyances/vehicles) which accounted for 58 per cent of the national land border commercial conveyance volumes.
The Ambassador Bridge alone processed 1,161,645 commercial vehicles accounting for 26% of the national land border commercial conveyance volumes.
In fact. the CBSA in the Southern Ontario Region processed 4,843,325 individuals which accounted for 52% of the national travellers who crossed at land borders.
The CBSA Southern Ontario Region (SOR) seized $765,334.17 in undeclared currency and monetary instruments (ex. stocks, bonds, banker's drafts, cheques and money orders). An 80% increase over the same period in 2020. For example, on April 9, officers at the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge discovered approximately $211,496 CAD in undeclared currency resulting in a $2,500 fine and a loss of NEXUS privileges.
The CBSA Southern Ontario Region (SOR) seized 244,348.54 kg in significant tobacco seizures equating to a total value of $44,328,239.70. The revenue evaded for these enforcement actions was $65,494,974.16. Moreover, 45 per cent of the Region's total weight of tobacco seized occurred at the Ambassador Bridge.
On April 10, officers at the Rainbow Bridge intercepted four Canadian citizens involved in an organized auto theft ring and in possession of break and enter instruments. The items were seized and the subjects were arrested for breach of recognizance before transfer to regional police.
Supporting other government departments
The CBSA Southern Ontario Region (SOR) processed 2,062 asylum claims. The Peace Bridge Refugee Processing centre alone managed 918 (44.5 per cent) of the total SOR asylum claims in the first 10 months of 202 and the Rainbow Bridge, received 708 claims (34.3 per cent).
