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

    Consumers Could See Internet Bills Rise In Light Of CRTC Ruling, Analysts Say

    Consumers Could See Internet Bills Rise In Light Of CRTC Ruling, Analysts Say
    TORONTO — Consumers could see their Internet costs edge higher as cable companies look to maintain their profits in light of a ruling that forces them to unbundle television channels.

    Consumers Could See Internet Bills Rise In Light Of CRTC Ruling, Analysts Say

    Will My Bill Go Down? Common Questions About New CRTC TV Rules Answered

    Will My Bill Go Down? Common Questions About New CRTC TV Rules Answered
    On Thursday, the CRTC released a new regulatory policy for TV providers. Here are the answers to five frequently asked questions about the new rules and what they mean for consumers:

    Will My Bill Go Down? Common Questions About New CRTC TV Rules Answered

    'I Just Got Shot': US Boy Posts Bloody Selfie Immediately After He Was Hit By Arizona Shooting

    'I Just Got Shot': US Boy Posts Bloody Selfie Immediately After He Was Hit By Arizona Shooting
    A 20-year-old US student who was shot in the shoulder decided to post a smiling selfie with the bleeding gunshot wound on social media rather than calling for medical help.

    'I Just Got Shot': US Boy Posts Bloody Selfie Immediately After He Was Hit By Arizona Shooting

    Love Begins To Pour When Men Come Home From Work

    Love Begins To Pour When Men Come Home From Work
    Absence does make the heart grow fonder. This is the outcome of new research that found that the level of the "love" hormone oxytocin increases when people come home after a tiring day at work.

    Love Begins To Pour When Men Come Home From Work

    Informal Email Address Hampers Your Hiring Chances

    Informal Email Address Hampers Your Hiring Chances
    An applicant's email address can greatly impact first impressions and affect one's chances of getting hired, according to a new study.

    Informal Email Address Hampers Your Hiring Chances

    Better Breakfast Leads To Higher Grades In Schools

    Better Breakfast Leads To Higher Grades In Schools
    Reinforcing the connection between good nutrition and good grades, researchers have found that free school breakfasts help students from low-income families perform better academically.

    Better Breakfast Leads To Higher Grades In Schools