Close X
Monday, November 25, 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

    Youngsters Tempted To Text Even During Sex

    Youngsters Tempted To Text Even During Sex
    Are you obsessed with texting in the shower, during sex, while using the toilet and even at funerals? Try not to give in to the temptation to check texts and send messages back and pay attention to the present situation.

    Youngsters Tempted To Text Even During Sex

    Vegan Diet The Most Climate-Friendly But You Can Replace Beef With Chicken To Save The Climate

    Vegan Diet The Most Climate-Friendly But You Can Replace Beef With Chicken To Save The Climate
    Even though vegan diet is the most climate-friendly, we can continue eating animal protein and still make a major contribution to the climate if we replace beef with poultry and eggs, and cut down on our consumption of milk and cheese, says new research.

    Vegan Diet The Most Climate-Friendly But You Can Replace Beef With Chicken To Save The Climate

    From 18 Ingredients To 12: A Look At Mcdonald's New Grilled Chicken Recipe Without Chemical Food

    From 18 Ingredients To 12: A Look At Mcdonald's New Grilled Chicken Recipe Without Chemical Food
    McDonald's says it's simplifying the recipe for its grilled chicken in the latest sign the chain is trying to keep up with changing tastes. Here's a look at the ingredient lists for the new grilled chicken, compared with the previous ingredient list:

    From 18 Ingredients To 12: A Look At Mcdonald's New Grilled Chicken Recipe Without Chemical Food

    More Tax On Alcohol Can Reduce Fatal Car Crashes

    More Tax On Alcohol Can Reduce Fatal Car Crashes
    Making alcohol less affordable through increased state alcohol taxes could prevent thousands of deaths a year from car crashes, asserts a new study.

    More Tax On Alcohol Can Reduce Fatal Car Crashes

    Mom's Facebook Apology Garners Thousands 'Likes'

    Mom's Facebook Apology Garners Thousands 'Likes'
    Alabama resident Kyesha Smith Wood's apology through a public post on Facebook for her daughter and stepdaughter's bad behaviour at a movie theatre has garnered much appreciation from all quarters.

    Mom's Facebook Apology Garners Thousands 'Likes'

    A Garden's Now More Than A Garden: Trying To Help The Planet (And Look Good Doing It)

    A Garden's Now More Than A Garden: Trying To Help The Planet (And Look Good Doing It)
    From the biggest botanical gardens to the smallest backyard plots and terraces, there's a movement underway to make gardens work harder for the environment.

    A Garden's Now More Than A Garden: Trying To Help The Planet (And Look Good Doing It)