Drizzt
Member
Toronto Star
January 29, 2003 Wednesday Ontario Edition
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. A03
LENGTH: 420 words
HEADLINE: Merchant strip-searched at airport over new rule
BYLINE: Catherine Porter, Toronto Star
HIGHLIGHT:
Must declare cash of $10,000 and up Law changed with little public notice
BODY:
A Brampton businessman was questioned, strip-searched and charged $250 at Pearson airport Monday, all because he was bringing more than $10,000 in cash into the country.
"I didn't know there was a law like this," Sam Gharbaway said Monday, recounting his three-hour ordeal. "I'm very humiliated. I was treated very poorly and I've done nothing wrong." Returning from a business trip to the Middle East, Gharbaway, who runs a medical equipment company, found himself in a customs line because his luggage was lost by Air Canada. When asked by the customs officer how much money he was bringing into the country, he responded he had around $9,900 (U.S.) on him.
That's when he was informed he'd breached a new regulation, passed only three weeks ago with little public notice: the Cross-Border Currency and Monetary Instrument Reporting Regulations. As of Jan. 6, it is mandatory to report the "importing or exporting of currency and monetary instruments of $10,000 or more" to Canada Customs, according to a government news release.
"How are you supposed to know about this law?" asked Gharbaway. "On the American landing card, it's clearly marked: 'Are you carrying currency over $10,000.' But on the Canadian Customs form, they only ask if you've visited a farm, or are carrying firearms or food. There is nothing about money."
Canada Customs confirms there is no question about money on the existing forms, which are being updated.
Gharbaway said his money was seized, and customs officers levied a $250 charge before his money was returned.
Penalties for failing to report currency under the new law range from $250 to $5,000.
Two customs officials then took him into a private room, where he was ordered to strip and given a body cavity search.
"Even if I'm pulled aside, I don't mind, but with dignity and some respect. Not this way at all. It's worse than in America," said Gharbaway, 47.
He was on a two-week trip to Dubai, where his company sells diagnostic medical equipment, like CT scanners and MRI machines. He travels to the Middle and Far East every couple of weeks, he said, always carrying a large sum of American money for emergencies.
Contacted about the Gharbaway case, a Canada Customs spokesperson said he could not comment on the specific case.
The question about money is not yet on declaration cards issued by airlines to all travellers entering Canada, the spokesperson said.
The cards are being amended to include the question.
January 29, 2003 Wednesday Ontario Edition
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. A03
LENGTH: 420 words
HEADLINE: Merchant strip-searched at airport over new rule
BYLINE: Catherine Porter, Toronto Star
HIGHLIGHT:
Must declare cash of $10,000 and up Law changed with little public notice
BODY:
A Brampton businessman was questioned, strip-searched and charged $250 at Pearson airport Monday, all because he was bringing more than $10,000 in cash into the country.
"I didn't know there was a law like this," Sam Gharbaway said Monday, recounting his three-hour ordeal. "I'm very humiliated. I was treated very poorly and I've done nothing wrong." Returning from a business trip to the Middle East, Gharbaway, who runs a medical equipment company, found himself in a customs line because his luggage was lost by Air Canada. When asked by the customs officer how much money he was bringing into the country, he responded he had around $9,900 (U.S.) on him.
That's when he was informed he'd breached a new regulation, passed only three weeks ago with little public notice: the Cross-Border Currency and Monetary Instrument Reporting Regulations. As of Jan. 6, it is mandatory to report the "importing or exporting of currency and monetary instruments of $10,000 or more" to Canada Customs, according to a government news release.
"How are you supposed to know about this law?" asked Gharbaway. "On the American landing card, it's clearly marked: 'Are you carrying currency over $10,000.' But on the Canadian Customs form, they only ask if you've visited a farm, or are carrying firearms or food. There is nothing about money."
Canada Customs confirms there is no question about money on the existing forms, which are being updated.
Gharbaway said his money was seized, and customs officers levied a $250 charge before his money was returned.
Penalties for failing to report currency under the new law range from $250 to $5,000.
Two customs officials then took him into a private room, where he was ordered to strip and given a body cavity search.
"Even if I'm pulled aside, I don't mind, but with dignity and some respect. Not this way at all. It's worse than in America," said Gharbaway, 47.
He was on a two-week trip to Dubai, where his company sells diagnostic medical equipment, like CT scanners and MRI machines. He travels to the Middle and Far East every couple of weeks, he said, always carrying a large sum of American money for emergencies.
Contacted about the Gharbaway case, a Canada Customs spokesperson said he could not comment on the specific case.
The question about money is not yet on declaration cards issued by airlines to all travellers entering Canada, the spokesperson said.
The cards are being amended to include the question.
