Man arrested at Douglas border crossing with $1 million in cash and gold
Canadian gold coins seized by CBSA.
By Salim Jiwa
VANCOUVER – Police have a million dollar man in custody.
And they are now trying to find out why the foreign national who was entering Canada failed to declare shiny gold coins and cash amounting to approximately a million dollars to the Canada Border Services Agency.
RCMP’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team, INSET, is recommending charges.
Superintendent Lloyde Plante, in charge of INSET, said police will recommend charges under proceeds of crime and terrorist financing laws.
However, Plante said that does not mean the person was engaged in financing terrorism, but that the law covering the movement of cash across the border is regulated by the act.
“We will be trying to find out the purpose of the money,” he said. Plante also said there appeared to be no attempt to conceal the cash in any elaborate manner.
“There are some beautiful Canadian gold coins, I had no idea that they could be minted outside the country,” said Plante.
The gold coins and bank notes were found when the man arrived at the Douglas border crossing south of Vancouver on Oct. 6, said Insp. Paul Richards of INSET.
“During their examination of the traveler, CBSA officers determined that he was in possession of undeclared gold and paper currency equaling approximately a million dollars,” said Richards. “CBSA officers arrested the individual and are now working jointly with the RCMP E Division Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) to determine the source of these funds.”
“At this time, E INSET investigators will be recommending charges to Crown against the male pursuant to Section 74 of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA) for failure/non-declaration of currency in excess of $10,000 while moving across an international border,” he said.
“The CBSA has been highly successful in the international fight against trans-border crime, specifically money laundering and terrorist financing, with the forfeiture of nearly $60 million in suspected proceeds of crime since the law came into effect in 2003,” said Kim Scoville, Director, Pacific Highway District.
The man is now in custody under immigration and refugee protection laws but police would not say whether the man was immigrating to Canada or whether he had applied for refugee status.
Copyright 2009, Vancouverite News Service. Use this article on your blog or website for just $5. News organizations pay $25. To reproduce or distribute, click: http://vancouverite.icopyright.com
No related articles.
Posted by Salim Jiwa
on Oct 23 2009. Filed under Featured.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
