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.

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.

Nearly 100 kg of suspected cocaine seized at Coutts border crossing

84 bricks of suspected cocaine seized on December 2

CBSA -  The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced today a record suspected cocaine seizure and subsequent arrests at the Coutts, Alberta border crossing.  On December 2, CBSA officers at Coutts intercepted a commercial vehicle hauling produce from California that was destined for an Alberta business. While examining the cab of the vehicle, officers found 84 bricks of suspected cocaine with a total weight of 99.5 kilograms. This is the largest suspected cocaine seizure recorded by CBSA officers in Alberta to date.

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.

Quadruple handgun seizure at Coutts in November

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

On November 29 at the Coutts border crossing, officers seized four undeclared handguns – including two with prohibited status – while examining a pickup truck and flatbed trailer. The CBSA has since charged Craig Andrew Chalmers, 46, of Alaska on six counts, including smuggling under the Customs Act. He was released on a recognizance and is scheduled to make his first appearance in Lethbridge Provincial Court on January 18, 2017.

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 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 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:

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.

CBSA 2015 year in review for southern Alberta

Detector Dog Trooper, BSO’s Smith and DeKok with drugs and paraphernalia seized by the CBSA last April

Canada Border Services Agency

In their continued commitment to keeping our borders safe and secure, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers in southern Alberta seized 51 undeclared firearms last year, representing the largest annual total since 2012. In one case at the Carway border crossing on May 3, officers seized three undeclared firearms – including two handguns – from a storage compartment underneath a bed in a travel trailer. The Coutts border crossing recorded the most firearms seizures (39) out of any border crossing in Western Canada.