ON September 15, Border Services Officers at the Burnaby Container Examination Facility examined a shipment from China declared as electric fans. The container was referred for examination based upon intelligence shared with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) by its law enforcement partners in the United States and China.

During the exam, the container was found to contain 216 boxes packed with 19,982 cartons of cigarettes. The value of the almost 4 million individual cigarettes that were seized is $2,205,613.16, and the amount of duties and taxes evaded is assessed at $2,499,348.56.

The CBSA said that in addition to damaging the Canadian economy, profits from illegal tobacco trade often help finance other organized crime activities, such as human trafficking, firearms and drug smuggling. All offenders are liable to sanctions and legal proceedings.

“Our top priority is the safety and security of our communities. The money smugglers make from selling contraband goods like the cigarettes seized in Burnaby is fuel for organized crime. I have seen the work of our CBSA officers up close, and I want to thank them for their efforts in protecting our borders and ensuring the safety and well-being of our communities,” said Gary Anandasangaree, federal Minister of Public Safety.

“The CBSA works hard to intercept contraband at our borders and investigates those who break Canada’s laws. The efforts of our border services officers, intelligence officers and investigators have disrupted illegal trade, which harms our communities and local businesses,” said Nina Patel, Regional Director General, CBSA, Pacific Region.