Save time at the border this Canada Day

The Coutts border crossing, which experiences the highest traffic volumes in southern Alberta.

Canada Border Services Agency - Sunday is Canada Day, and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) border crossings in southern Alberta are expected to be busy this weekend. Last Canada Day weekend, CBSA officers in southern Alberta processed more than 17,000 travellers in 8,000 vehicles. Following are five tips to make entry to Canada as smooth as possible for returning Canadians and visitors travelling north to join the celebrations:

CBSA travel tips for Victoria Day

The Coutts, Alberta border crossing

Canada Border Services Agency - The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reminds travellers to plan ahead for their Victoria Day weekend travel plans. The CBSA is expecting higher traffic volumes throughout the holiday weekend, particularly on Sunday, May 20 and Monday, May 21.

The Coutts port of entry is open 24-7 and has the greatest capacity to process large volumes of travellers. During peak hours, all primary inspection lanes will be open and the port will be operating at maximum capacity.   Other border crossings in southern Alberta are also expected to see larger traffic volumes on the long weekend including Chief Mountain, Carway and Del Bonita.

31 kg of suspected cocaine seized at Carway border crossing

CBSA/RCMP -  The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced today a significant suspected narcotics seizure and arrest at the Carway, Alberta border crossing.

2017 CBSA highlights from southern Alberta

99.5 kilograms of suspected cocaine seized at Coutts on December 2

Canada Border Services Agency - As 2017 draws to a close, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is highlighting top stories from its border operations in southern Alberta.

More suspected cocaine seized at Coutts border

CBSA / RCMP - The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced today another significant narcotics seizure at the Coutts, Alberta border crossing.

On December 17, 2017, CBSA officers at Coutts intercepted a commercial vehicle hauling produce from California and destined for an Alberta business. While examining the vehicle, officers uncovered 17 bricks of suspected cocaine with a total weight of 21 kg. The bricks were located in a closet area within the cab.

Chief Mountain closes for the season, Wild Horse resuming normal hours

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) advises travellers that the Chief Mountain port of entry will close for the season at 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 30, 2017. It will re-open for the next summer season on May 15, 2018. Chief Mountain is located along Highway 6 in Alberta.

Additionally, the Wild Horse port of entry will be resuming its regular hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) on October 1, 2017. The port of Wild Horse is located 145 km (90 miles) south of Medicine Hat on Highway 41.

From May to August, officers at Chief Mountain welcomed 68,000 travellers in 25,000 vehicles. From May to August, officers at Wild Horse welcomed 17,000 travellers in 8,000 vehicles.

Five border-crossing tips for returning Canadian snowbirds

Canada Border Services Agency - After wintering abroad, Canadian snowbirds are beginning to fly – and drive – north in increasing numbers. This is a peak travel time at many border crossings, and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Prairie Region offers the following tips to make the return to Canada as quick and smooth as possible:

Top five Alberta border stories of 2016

A CBSA officer places a traveller under arrest (CBSA photos)

Canada Border Services Agency - As 2017 begins, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) shares the top stories from its border crossings in southern Alberta last year. Each of these stories highlights the important role that front-line CBSA officers play in protecting Albertans.

43 overcapacity magazines seized at Del Bonita border crossing in October

Alberta Canada Border Services Agency - The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is pleased to share a sample of October highlights from its border crossings in Alberta. In addition to making the Prairie Region’s largest cocaine seizure (92.74 kg) on record on Thanksgiving Day, officers intercepted impaired drivers, undeclared firearms and other contraband:

5 charged after 3 separate cocaine seizures at Coutts

RCMP Federal Policing South - The RCMP Federal Policing’s Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET) in Raymond, Alberta, have arrested five men in relation to charges of Importation of a Controlled Substance and Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking a Controlled Substance under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) after three separate seizures of cocaine at the Coutts, Alberta, Port of Entry.

CBSA in Alberta intercepts stun gun, impaired driver in September

The Coutts, Alberta border crossing

CBSA - The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is pleased to share a sample of September highlights from its border crossings in southern Alberta:

CBSA Prairie is now on Twitter

Canada Border Services Agency - The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Prairie Region is now live on Twitter! Subscribe to @canborderpra and stay current with local CBSA news and significant enforcement actions, travel tips and more. Be in the know on latest initiatives our officers are involved with in the community. We will provide you with the latest CBSA related content from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories.

CBSA recovers missing children at southern Alberta border in August

Canada Border Services Agency - The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is pleased to share a sample of August highlights from its border crossings in southern Alberta.

Eleven guns seized at Coutts border crossing in less than 24 hours

Canada Border Services Agency - Just days after the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) launched its campaign reminding U.S. travellers of the requirement to declare all firearms at the border, officers at the Coutts, Alberta, crossing seized 11 guns in three separate incidents from American visitors on August 26 and 27:

CBSA in Western Canada urges US travellers to leave handguns at home

Canada Border Services Agency - Today the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) launches a Firearms Awareness campaign in Western Canada, to inform United States (US) travellers about Canadian firearm laws.

CBSA makes multiple border arrests in July

Handgun, overcapacity magazines, and suspected drugs seized at Coutts on July 12

Canada Border Services Agency - The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is pleased to share a sample of July highlights from its border crossings in southern Alberta, including the following gun seizures at Coutts:

17 guns seized at Alberta border crossings in June

Alberta Canada Border Services Agency - The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is pleased to share a sample of June highlights from its border crossings in southern Alberta, including the seizure of 17 undeclared guns in 11 separate incidents at Coutts, Carway and Chief Mountain. Following are some of the most significant:

CBSA in Alberta intercepts guns, criminals, horses in May

Canada Border Services Agency - The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is pleased to share a sample of May highlights from its border crossings in southern Alberta, including the interception of two undeclared guns at Coutts:

CBSA officers in Alberta snag five guns in April

Canada Border Services Agency

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is pleased to share a sample of April highlights from its border crossings in southern Alberta:

Alberta CBSA cracks down on guns, immigration offences in March

380-calibre handgun and 24 prohibited magazines seized at Coutts on February 29

Alberta Canada Border Services Agency

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is pleased to share a sample of March highlights from its border crossings in southern Alberta:

On February 29, CBSA officers seized a prohibited .380-calibre pistol and 24 prohibited magazines from a traveller at the Coutts border crossing. Michael Bissonette, 47, of Georgia faces a total of 13 charges – eight under the Customs Act and five under the Criminal Code – and is scheduled to appear in Lethbridge Provincial Court on April 20.