Halifax residents fined for border infraction
News release
July 6, 2018 Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada Border Services Agency
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced that two Nova Scotia residents were sentenced today in Dartmouth Provincial Court to two counts of making false statements and non-report of goods under the Customs Act.
Carl Launt and his spouse Michelle Ferguson, of Halifax, Nova Scotia pleaded guilty on May 7, 2018 and were sentenced today by the court to fines totalling $43,780 for the Custom Act charges. In addition to the court fine, they must pay a civil penalty of $13,684.65 for the return of their watches. A second civil penalty of $44,435.20 was also imposed by the CBSA for additional undeclared luxury items.
On September 16, 2016, CBSA officers in Quebec examined a courier package sent from the Bahamas. The shipment included two empty luxury watch boxes, certificates of authenticity, and receipts dated September 11, 2016 totaling $45,615.50. CBSA investigators in Halifax, N.S. then began an investigation. As part of the investigation, a search warrant was executed at the individuals' residence, which revealed that they had imported additional undeclared luxury items totaling $148,117.32 over 15 trips from 2013 to 2017.
The CBSA reminds all travellers to declare all purchases and items received when returning to Canada. This includes goods you are travelling with and that you mail to Canada. Failure to report all goods, smuggling, undervaluation and other breaches of the Customs Act may lead to criminal prosecution in a court of law.
Quotes
“This is another example of how those who smuggle to avoid paying duties and taxes face harsh penalties for their actions. Failing to report goods upon your return to Canada is an illegal offence that the CBSA takes very seriously.”
Dominic Mallette, Acting Director, Enforcement and Intelligence – Atlantic Region
Quick facts
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The CBSA is responsible, under the Customs Act, for ensuring the collection of duties and controlling the movement of people and goods into and out of Canada.
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For more information on declaring your goods when returning to Canada, and applicable exemption limits, please visit www.cbsa.gc.ca. You can also call the Border Information Service at 1-800-461-9999 from within Canada; or 1-506-636-5064 from outside the Canada.
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Contacts
Atlantic Region Media Relations
902-426-0900
CommunicationsATL@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
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