CORNWALL, Ontario – The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today that an Akwesasne man has been charged with contraventions to the Customs Act and Explosives Act as he attempted to enter Canada at the Cornwall port of entry (POE).
On July 6, 2017, a 52-year-old Kanawakeron Jody Swamp arrived at the Cornwall POE and was referred for a secondary examination.
During the secondary exam, an officer went to open the hood of the pickup truck when the man spontaneously stated that there “are fireworks in there,” and asked if “it is illegal to have firecrackers?”.
CBSA officers found 48 packages of firecrackers packed around the engine compartment. Swamp said his friend placed the fireworks in the engine compartment although the driver admitted he knew they were there.
Swamp was arrested and charged with failure to report goods, evading compliance and possession of illegally imported goods under subsection 12(1), paragraph 153(c) and section 155 of the Customs Act; as well as possession under subsection 21(1) of the Explosives Act. The fireworks and his vehicle were seized. The vehicle will be returned upon payment of a $1, 000 penalty.
“It is important to make a full and accurate declaration upon your arrival to the port of entry and to be aware of the rules and restrictions on items you are transporting,” said Julie Sommerville, Chief of Operations at Cornwall Port of Entry. “It is a requirement for travellers to have written authorization and import permits to bring explosives, fireworks and certain types of ammunition into Canada.”
