The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has issued a $36.9 million fine to an Ontario business owner for allegedly failing to declare more than 2,300 used vehicles exported from Canada.
In a press release issued Monday, the CBSA stated that the Ontario exporter was suspected of shipping many used vehicles from Canada to West Africa without completing the necessary export declaration procedures, a move that triggered an investigation in 2021. The CBSA Criminal Investigations Unit, based in Halifax, launched an investigation and ultimately executed two search warrants in London, Ontario in July 2023.During the search, CBSA agents seized a large number of items, including business and financial records, vehicle ownership documents, sales contracts, bankers’ boxes filled with documents, and electronic devices such as computers, mobile phones, and SIM cards.
After a detailed review and analysis of more than 750,000 records related to the case, the CBSA, pursuant to Section 95 of the Customs Act, formally served the individuals involved with a Notice of Ascertained Forfeiture for failing to declare exported goods in accordance with the law.
The federal agency stated that the penalty amounted to the full value of the exported vehicles.
In a press release, Dominic Mallette, CBSA’s Regional Director for the Atlantic region, said: “The tens of millions of dollars in fines that accompany the findings of this investigation send a strong warning to all commercial exporters: any failure to comply with mandatory reporting requirements and Canadian law will be dealt with seriously.”