More than 153,000 travellers entered Canada through the Creston Valley’s two border crossings during the summer, according to information from the Canada Border Services Agency.
KINGSGATE
Of the 105,345 who came through the Kingsgate port of entry south of Yahk, 50,375 arrived in July and 54,970 in August — 30 per cent of its annual traffic — with 74,948 of those Canadian travellers returning home and 30,397 foreign nationals.
Border services officers (BSOs) determined that 59 of those arriving — 337 in July and 22 in August — did not meet admissibility requirements, and they voluntarily withdrew their application to enter Canada.
“Most travellers were refused entry due to a criminal history,” said the CBSA report.
Some reasons for criminal inadmissibility included driving under the influence, sexual acts with a child, possession of a controlled substance, and breaking and entering. One traveller was refused entry after being issued a previous deportation order, and attempting to return without authorization.
BSOs at Kingsgate made four customs seizures in July, for the undervaluation of an RV, the undervaluation of a purebred canine and the non-report of a watercraft. Another traveller was arrested and refused entry for carrying personal quantities of LSD, marijuana and a regulated opiate narcotic.
In August, a U.S. resident seeking entry did not declare any weapons during primary inspection, but later admitted to having a .22-calibre revolver under the driver’s seat.
“The traveller was charged and pleaded guilty in the Creston Law Courts to possession of a firearm with readily accessible ammunition,” said the CBSA report.
Enforcement actions taken in August included the seizure of two handguns and personal quantities of amphetamine, and intercepting a traveller who attempted to enter Canada without reporting to the CBSA.
RYKERTS
At the smaller Rykerts crossing south of Creston, 24,678 travellers crossed in July and 23,119 in August. Of those 47,797, 38,070 were returning Canadian travellers.
The BSOs at Rykerts are also responsible for processing aircraft at the Creston Valley Regional Airport and the Eckhart International Airstrip just south of the border. Four were processed in July, and three (six passengers and crew) in August.
In July, four travellers voluntarily withdrew their applications to entre Canada, after being deemed criminally inadmissible on charges and/or convictions of larceny, trespassing and theft. Charges or convictions of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to traffic, fraud, theft and driving while under the influence kept seven people from Canada in August.
BSOs seized seven 1.75-litre bottles of undeclared alcohol from a U.S. resident in July, and levied eight forced entries of taxes for goods that were not declared in August.
