Walrus skull, turkey talon, bobcat skins and 8 firearms among items 2 Americans tried to bring into Canada: CBSA
A pair of Americans tried to bring a lengthy and somewhat strange list of undeclared items into Canada, border officials say.
In a news release last week, the Canada Border Services Agency outlined a list of items including firearms and animal products, which it says were seized by officers somewhere in its "West Coast and Yukon District."
CBSA would not tell CTV News specifically where in that district the items were seized, including in which province or territory, and while the news release was not issued until July 15, the seizure allegedly took place nearly two months earlier.
It appears the border crossing was on land, based on the seizure of the travellers' vehicle.
According to CBSA, the U.S. residents were "seeking entry to transit through Canada," suggesting they may have been heading to or from Alaska, but officials have not confirmed that detail.
For undisclosed reasons, the men were referred for secondary examination, CBSA said. The agency said it was during this search that eight undeclared firearms were uncovered, one of which was prohibited.
Border officials say they also found 15 prohibited magazines.
Among the more unusual items, CBSA said they found several animal products, many of which are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which falls under federal wildlife trade law.
CBSA said its officers found two ivory tusks, as well as two ivory ornaments, among the Americans' things. It said 13 ivory pucks were also found.
The men had with them three bobcat skins, two sheep horns, one bear paw, one turkey talon and one bear skull, CBSA said.
Additionally, it is alleged they had seven pieces of whale baleen, two seal-skin hats and one walrus skull.
According to the agency, the animal products were seized by Environment and Climate Change Canada, and the traveller who claimed ownership of the goods was given two penalties with a $1,200 fine.
That person, who has been identified only as male, was also issued an $8,500 penalty by CBSA for the release of his vehicle.
He's also been charged with four counts under the Canadian Criminal Code and Customs Act: unauthorized possession of a firearm; unauthorized possession of prohibited devices; making false statements; and smuggling.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States.