Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
Interesting

Lax Border Checks Allow Illegal Drugs To Slip Undetected Out Of Canada: Auditor

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 02 Feb, 2016 11:43 AM
    OTTAWA — The Canada Border Services Agency is not keeping a close enough eye on exports, causing high-risk shipments — including illegal drugs and stolen cars — to leave the country undetected, auditor general Michael Ferguson says.
     
    In his latest series of reports examining the efficiencies and failings of various government departments, the federal watchdog finds the border agency is not reviewing all export declarations and not examining many shipments flagged by its own internal system — or by warnings from other departments.
     
    Up to 20 per cent of high-risk exports identified by the agency's centralized targeting units were allowed to pass without inspection.
     
    Much of the breakdown relates to staff levels; in some locations, inspections cease entirely if a single staff member goes away on vacation.
     
    "We also found that the agency did not always conduct targeting and examinations during all hours and days when export shipments move," the audit said. "This meant that non-compliant shipments were exported undetected."
     
    The audit found that when the agency did detain shipments, it was holding on to legitimate goods far too long and — in some cases — costing businesses their contracts.
     
    Also, Ferguson found that while goods valued under $2,000 do not require a permit, they can be subject to random inspection, but often are not because of a shortage of staff.
     
     
    Small, undeclared parcels are a popular means for drug traffickers to get their illicit products out of the country, but according to Ferguson's report, huntng for those shipments is not a priority under the current system.
     
    "The agency had identified illegal drugs being exported out of Canada as a high-risk area; it made several drug seizures during the period of our audit," said the report, tabled Tuesday in Parliament. 
     
    "But agency officials told us that the limits on their examination authorities reduced their effectiveness in preventing the export of illegal drugs. This limited authority, together with limited resources, resulted in the agency’s not setting export of illegal drugs as an examination priority."
     
    Ferguson said the agency receives a mish-mash of customs declarations and that the whole system should be electronic.
     
    In 2014, the agency received data on about 787,500 electronic forms declarations submitted through the Canadian Automated Export Declaration (CAED) system — an outdated network that was due to be replaced years ago. Additionally, it received at least 44,000 paper declarations.
     
    Exporters intend on evading the inspection system seem to know that all they have to do in order to slip past is to file the paperwork right at the deadline. Declarations must be submitted at least two hours before shipments are loaded on planes and at least 48 hours before loading onto ships.
     
     
     "We were told that about one third of targets were not examined because the agency’s local office received information about the targets too late—that is, after the shipments had already left or been loaded on planes and ships," said the audit.

    MORE Interesting ARTICLES

    Afghan Gets A Pair Of Hands From A Keralite

    Afghan Gets A Pair Of Hands From A Keralite
    Thirty-two-year-old Abdul Rahim, a former captain with the Afghan ecurity Force has now got a fresh pair of hands, thanks to a brain-dead Keralite and to a team of doctors at a leading private hospital here who conducted the double transplant.

    Afghan Gets A Pair Of Hands From A Keralite

    Fast-Food Kale? Mcdonald's Brings Three Kale Salads To Canada

    Fast-Food Kale? Mcdonald's Brings Three Kale Salads To Canada
    TORONTO — Canadian McDonald's outlets are now serving up new salads featuring an unexpected ingredient from the struggling fast-food giant: Kale. 

    Fast-Food Kale? Mcdonald's Brings Three Kale Salads To Canada

    McDonald's Shows Hamburglar As Suburban Dad In Ad For New Sirloin Third-pound Burgers

    McDonald's Shows Hamburglar As Suburban Dad In Ad For New Sirloin Third-pound Burgers
    NEW YORK — Based on McDonald's latest ad, it looks like the Hamburglar settled down in the suburbs and spent the last decade going to youth soccer games and perfecting his stubble.

    McDonald's Shows Hamburglar As Suburban Dad In Ad For New Sirloin Third-pound Burgers

    Indian Origin Woman's Brain Tumor Turns Out To Be 'Evil Twin' Complete With Bone, Hair And Teeth

    Indian Origin Woman's Brain Tumor Turns Out To Be 'Evil Twin' Complete With Bone, Hair And Teeth
    An Indian computer science PhD student from Hyderabad underwent brain surgery to find what she jokingly called her "evil twin sister who's been torturing me for the past 26 years".

    Indian Origin Woman's Brain Tumor Turns Out To Be 'Evil Twin' Complete With Bone, Hair And Teeth

    Indian-Origin Millionaire Ronan Ghosh Caught Shoplifting £200 Of Wine And Meat In Birmingham

    Indian-Origin Millionaire Ronan Ghosh Caught Shoplifting £200 Of Wine And Meat In Birmingham
    Ronan Ghosh, 39, was shopping at the Tesco outlet in Birmingham, West Midlands, on February 21 and he only paid for the items in his trolley but did not pay for the items he kept in his bag

    Indian-Origin Millionaire Ronan Ghosh Caught Shoplifting £200 Of Wine And Meat In Birmingham

    Japanese Train Sets World Speed Record, Clocks 603 Kilometres Per Hour

    Japanese Train Sets World Speed Record, Clocks 603 Kilometres Per Hour
    A Japanese high-speed train broke its own world speed record on Tuesday, clocking 603 kilometres per hour (374.69 miles per hour), after having set the previous record less than a week ago.

    Japanese Train Sets World Speed Record, Clocks 603 Kilometres Per Hour