The Daily News provides some further background on a story that came out on Thursday about the Canadian Border Services Agency investigation into alleged child pornography loaded on a personal laptop and shipboard computer in Prince Rupert Harbour.
The charges were part of an ongoing investigation by CBSA and the RCMP using the latest in computer tracking information, the full details were found in Friday's paper.
Improved training is targeting high-tech misery
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Friday, December 07, 2007
Pages one and three
Thanks to improved training for Canada's Border Services Agency officers, more child pornographers are being identified and charged every year.
On Mon., Dec. 3, CBSA officers boarded a cargo ship at anchor in the Prince Rupert Harbour and conducted a vessel rummage.
During their examination of crew quarters, Border Services Officers discovered a laptop computer and flash drive that contained images of suspected child abuse.
A 58-year-old crew member was immediately arrested by Border Services Officers and turned over to members of the Prince Rupert RCMP Border Integrity Program.
The male suspect was taken into police custody and he appeared in Prince Rupert Provincial Court on Wed., Dec. 5.
He was released from custody and will be appearing in court at a later date to face the charge of possession of child pornography under the Criminal Code of Canada.
"We've had a few incidents where we have made arrests for people that have possessed these types of images, and the courts have dealt with them in a variety of ways," said Constable Jagdev Uppal of the Prince Rupert RCMP Border Integrity Program.
"Some are still pending court, in others the individual plead guilty and served their time in jail in Canada, and were subsequently deemed inadmissable by the CBSA."
Faith St. John, communications director for the CBSA said that since 2003, border officers have been subject to increased training regarding personal electronic devices in order to prevent the international flow of illegal materials such as child pornography.
"Recently, our officers have increased training on examination techniques for electronics like laptops, cellphones, flashcards and those kinds of things, as part of increased awareness training officers received in techniques. It wouldn't be unusual for an officer to see a laptop, turn it on and see what's on there," she said.
"We have the authority to search that, it's no different than if you were coming through the airport and we looked through you luggage."
This advance in electronic examination training began in 2003, prior to which personal electronic devices were not as popular and common as they are today. Since this training was implemented and officers began searching electronics thoroughly, seizures of child pornography have increased every year by 50 per cent nationally. Cst. Uppal said that while the total amount of images seized is not disclosable, the images were very graphic in nature and quite disturbing.
"The additional training helps, because it's a huge problem. The RCMP has also seen a dramatic increase, a lot of it due to the internet," he said.
"A lot of it is readily available and anybody can tap into the internet. There's so much material out there, and it's so disturbing to know that these children are being put into harm's way."
The RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency takes child pornography and sexual assaults very seriously, ensuring that children are saved and protected from further sexual exploitation. Both agencies continue to work together to combat the possession and distribution of images of child sexual abuse.
Individuals who prey on the innocence and trusting nature of young children should be aware that as a result of the closer working relationship between law enforcement agencies around the world, perpetrators will be apprehended and held accountable for their actions, Uppal said.
The RCMP has set up a tip line specifically to report any incidents where children are being sexually abused. Anyone with information regarding child abuse or pornography is asked to call 604-598-4498, or their local RCMP detachment.
Showing posts with label Canadian Border Services. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canadian Border Services. Show all posts
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
Not particularly standing on guard for thee
The RCMP and Canadian Border Services Agency dropped a bit of a bomb shell on British Columbians today, with the announcement of the arrest of a Surrey based Border guard, who seemingly had crossed over to the dark side when it comes to keeping guard on Canada’s border.
The thirteen month investigation into the happenings at the Pacific Border crossing in Surrey, found that Border guard Baljinder Kandola, 35, allegedly used his position to allow shipments of guns and drugs to proceed into Canada
On Thursday morning, the border guard and two other men were arrested after police found restricted handguns, cash and 208 kilograms of cocaine worth $6 million inside two vehicles.
It’s the second bout of bad publicity that the Border Services Agency has suffered in the last few months. CBSA members recently made news when inappropriate remarks and less than flattering pictures made on the Facebook social network were made public.
At the time some critics of the Agency suggested that the use of part time students for border security left the Agency in peril of potential problems.
The thirteen month investigation into the happenings at the Pacific Border crossing in Surrey, found that Border guard Baljinder Kandola, 35, allegedly used his position to allow shipments of guns and drugs to proceed into Canada
On Thursday morning, the border guard and two other men were arrested after police found restricted handguns, cash and 208 kilograms of cocaine worth $6 million inside two vehicles.
It’s the second bout of bad publicity that the Border Services Agency has suffered in the last few months. CBSA members recently made news when inappropriate remarks and less than flattering pictures made on the Facebook social network were made public.
At the time some critics of the Agency suggested that the use of part time students for border security left the Agency in peril of potential problems.
Those and other concerns have left more than a few wondering aloud about the state of Canada’s borders, considering the latest developments out of Surrey they may have more to worry about than even they thought!
B.C. border guard busted on drugs and weapons charges
2 other men also arrested at Surrey crossing
2 other men also arrested at Surrey crossing
CBC News
Friday, October 26, 2007
RCMP have arrested a border guard in Surrey, B.C, alleging that he used his position to allow cocaine and guns to be smuggled across the Canada-U.S. border.
As part of a 13-month investigation, the RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency have been closely watching the Pacific Highway Border crossing in Surrey. On Thursday morning, a border guard and two other men were arrested after police found restricted handguns, cash and 208 kilograms of cocaine worth $6 million inside two vehicles.
"This operation began after information was received that a border officer was a key figure in a criminal enterprise," Insp. Dan Malo, who's in charge of the investigation, said Friday.
"Nobody in Canada smuggles this quantity of cocaine without being involved in organized crime."
Police allege that two luxury SUVs were allowed to pass through a commercial inspection booth without examination.
Other border guards were disheartened by the news that one of their own had been arrested, said Kim Scoville, director of the CBSA's Pacific Highway District.
"It's a sense of betrayal they're experiencing and it is something that we take seriously," he said.
Border guard Baljinder Kandola, 35, and two other Richmond men, Shminder Johal, 34, and Herman Riar, 26, are all charged with importing cocaine to Canada, possession for the purposes of trafficking, conspiracy to import cocaine, as well as importing restricted firearms. Kandola is also charged with breach of trust and bribery.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Renewed concerns over summer border guards, after CBC news story
There are some serious charges being levelled against the Canadian Border Services summer student recruitment program, and the concerns may get a new life after the feature posted on the CBC website Monday.
A number of current and former border guards have spoken out about the controversial summer program which sees some 1200 students hired on to stand on guard for thee at any number of border points in Canada, including Prince Rupert.
The hiring of the students has long been one that the union for the CBSA officers has been concerned about and the latest revelations probably won't do much to change their opinions.
The tempest has been stirred up by two former border guards who were denied full time status and have since left the Agency. And while many might dismiss their concerns as sour grapes, they provide more than enough damning evidence that may cause the Government to rethink its hiring priorities and certainly leave you with a number of questions about the calibre of the people being tasked to keep our borders safe.
Of particular concern seems to be some inappropriate behaviour by the student guards who post their off duty actions on the likes of Facebook or MySpace, events that show them drinking while in uniform and expressing less than complimentary comments about their jobs.
The CBC included some of the facebook postings on its website. In fact, among the more worrisome traits of some of the newest recruits, would be some of the advice that they could be offering to would be terrorists through their postings in the facebook forums. For example, they provide the helpful suggestion that the best time to sneak yourself into the country is when the students first arrive on the job.
That has long been a comment that many experienced guards and critics of the student employment program have been saying for a few years now, but they've tended to keep their thoughts to official channels and not on one of the worlds most popular social network sites.
In their social networking travels, the students at least exhibit a lack of maturity in some cases, a fault that have some questioning their aptitude to for the job at hand and whether those same students that go on to full time status are mature enough to be trusted to be armed with firearms as all Border guards are in the process of doing.
It should prove to be an explosive report that the CBC has aired, one which won't be cause for comfort for many Canadians and leaves more than a few questions for the government to answer for.
Student recruits unfit for service, say former border guards
Facebook postings show drinking and partying while officers in uniform
CBC News
Monday, October 1, 2007
Canada Border Services Agency officers who work in B.C. are being accused of posting inappropriate and offensive material, some of it directly related to their jobs, on the internet.
The material includes jokes about guns and passports, an allegation that Prime Minister Stephen Harper is a "serial killer" and insults directed at French-speaking Canadians.
"It's just revolting what is being posted … and the lack of action to stop them from doing that," said Chris Hughes, a former border officer from Victoria who revealed the material, captured on Facebook and similar sites, to CBC News.
The postings also raise questions about whether some of the people trusted to guard Canada's borders are qualified to keep out terrorists and other criminals, he said.
"This is a huge security issue," said Hughes.
Hughes and his former colleague, Levan Turner, both in their 40s, worked summers at the border until the government decided not to hire them permanently.
They claim they were passed over in favour of younger, cheaper, student recruits. Hughes claimed he has been tracking website postings by several of those recruits ever since.
In numerous posted photos, new recruits are seen drinking and partying at a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) centre in Rigaud, Que., where they train to become full-time officers, on taxpayers' money.
One recruit wrote, "My tolerance for alcohol that I built up at Rigaud … is insane."
"It looks like you do a bit of learning and a lot of drinking," Hughes told CBC News.
"I understand if they want to party," said Turner, "But to put that out there for the public to see isn't proper."
Facebook photo shows recruit drinking in uniform
One photo, apparently taken in B.C., shows a Canada Border Services Agency officer drinking from a keg while in uniform. Consuming alcohol in uniform, on or off duty, is a direct violation of CBSA's code of conduct.
Another alleged officer, also pictured in uniform on the web, posted responses to a quiz — answering that she has cheated on a test, smoked pot and felt like killing someone.
When a friend apparently asks her, online, if she has been issued a gun, the officer answers, "I think the prime minister should be getting on the phone, and calling a few people and getting that straightened up real quick," said Turner.
The female officer also wrote: "I don't have a gun... YET!!! You will be the first one to hear about it when serial killer Harper gives me one."
It seems she didn't like training in Quebec. In postings, the writer refers to the province as "the land of poutine and frog," and "f---ing French bastards."
"If they are playing around with Facebook, saying those things, what are they going to do when they get a gun?" asks Hughes. "What kind of jokes and pictures are they going to take with firearms?"
A male officer, who posted his CBSA job title as "Bad Ass," did post a picture of the type of gun he expects to get, with the caption, "Soon enough, baby. Soon enough."
That same officer wrote he is "incredibly excited that he got to arrest someone again." There are pictures of men necking and holding each other down, apparently as a joke. The photos are labelled "Victoria Rape."
"It shows immaturity among people and that's exactly what it is," said Turner. "If this person is going to get a gun I think I would be really nervous if I were the traveller."
The former B.C. officers are also raising alarm bells about how new recruits performed on the job.
"Most of them lack the maturity, they lack the experience," Hughes said. "I've seen so many students that should have been referring so many prime candidates for secondary inspection and have just let them into the country."
According to the Customs Excise Union (CEUDA), which represents border services officers, the majority of staffers trusted to guard Canada's borders are either part-time students or new, full-time recruits, many who started as students.
The CBSA hires some 1,200 students each summer. Those being kept on, as full-time recruits, get nine weeks of training.
Part-time students are not issued firearms, but all recruits hired on full-time eventually will be. The minister responsible for public safety, Stockwell Day, has just announced a $50-million expansion of the Rigaud centre, to increase the number of recruits that can be trained.
CBC News asked Day for his reaction to the internet postings.
"The overall program of training our border officers is a very successful one," Day said.
"We have a highly credible, highly professional force of Canada Border Service agents, men and women. I meet with them on a regular occasion and get out to the borders themselves to meet with them.
"I'm very proud of what they do. There's always going to be a case where one or two or a few may be upset but when you are looking at 4,800 men and women across the country occupying those border station they are doing a great job."
Union says students not qualified
Last year, the CEUDA submitted a report to the Senate committee on national security and defence that said, "Students are not qualified to perform the duties to which they are being assigned, which compromises their own safety, that of other officers, the travelling public and Canadians at large."
The website postings Hughes found show confusion over passports.
One student asks others online, "Did anybody else panic when they saw their first Dutch or (insert weird foreign country) passport?"
Another answers, "Ha, ha. I totally freaked when I saw Österreich (Austria). It was the oldest, most sketch looking thing ever."
Turner's reaction was, "You can make up a phoney passport. If they don't know what it is and they don't know what they are looking at, then they could just let somebody in or let anybody in."
"If you were a terrorist and you wanted to get into Canada," said Hughes, "come when the students first go on the job."
Hughes said he has been sending letters of complaint to the CBSA and to Day for months. He claims most of his concerns have not been acknowledged.
"Anybody can see there is a problem," said Turner. "But nobody wants to do anything about it and that's the reason we had to come to [CBC News] and go public is because nobody else would listen."
The Canada Border Services Agency circulated an internal memorandum to employees on Aug. 24, warning about their participating in social networking websites.
"Even off-duty conduct becomes a work-related matter if it jeopardizes the agency's reputation or programs," said the memo obtained by CBC News.
"For these reasons, we would like to remind you that inappropriate behaviour by employees on such websites could result in administrative and/or disciplinary action," it said.
A number of current and former border guards have spoken out about the controversial summer program which sees some 1200 students hired on to stand on guard for thee at any number of border points in Canada, including Prince Rupert.
The hiring of the students has long been one that the union for the CBSA officers has been concerned about and the latest revelations probably won't do much to change their opinions.
The tempest has been stirred up by two former border guards who were denied full time status and have since left the Agency. And while many might dismiss their concerns as sour grapes, they provide more than enough damning evidence that may cause the Government to rethink its hiring priorities and certainly leave you with a number of questions about the calibre of the people being tasked to keep our borders safe.
Of particular concern seems to be some inappropriate behaviour by the student guards who post their off duty actions on the likes of Facebook or MySpace, events that show them drinking while in uniform and expressing less than complimentary comments about their jobs.
The CBC included some of the facebook postings on its website. In fact, among the more worrisome traits of some of the newest recruits, would be some of the advice that they could be offering to would be terrorists through their postings in the facebook forums. For example, they provide the helpful suggestion that the best time to sneak yourself into the country is when the students first arrive on the job.
That has long been a comment that many experienced guards and critics of the student employment program have been saying for a few years now, but they've tended to keep their thoughts to official channels and not on one of the worlds most popular social network sites.
In their social networking travels, the students at least exhibit a lack of maturity in some cases, a fault that have some questioning their aptitude to for the job at hand and whether those same students that go on to full time status are mature enough to be trusted to be armed with firearms as all Border guards are in the process of doing.
It should prove to be an explosive report that the CBC has aired, one which won't be cause for comfort for many Canadians and leaves more than a few questions for the government to answer for.
Student recruits unfit for service, say former border guards
Facebook postings show drinking and partying while officers in uniform
CBC News
Monday, October 1, 2007
Canada Border Services Agency officers who work in B.C. are being accused of posting inappropriate and offensive material, some of it directly related to their jobs, on the internet.
The material includes jokes about guns and passports, an allegation that Prime Minister Stephen Harper is a "serial killer" and insults directed at French-speaking Canadians.
"It's just revolting what is being posted … and the lack of action to stop them from doing that," said Chris Hughes, a former border officer from Victoria who revealed the material, captured on Facebook and similar sites, to CBC News.
The postings also raise questions about whether some of the people trusted to guard Canada's borders are qualified to keep out terrorists and other criminals, he said.
"This is a huge security issue," said Hughes.
Hughes and his former colleague, Levan Turner, both in their 40s, worked summers at the border until the government decided not to hire them permanently.
They claim they were passed over in favour of younger, cheaper, student recruits. Hughes claimed he has been tracking website postings by several of those recruits ever since.
In numerous posted photos, new recruits are seen drinking and partying at a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) centre in Rigaud, Que., where they train to become full-time officers, on taxpayers' money.
One recruit wrote, "My tolerance for alcohol that I built up at Rigaud … is insane."
"It looks like you do a bit of learning and a lot of drinking," Hughes told CBC News.
"I understand if they want to party," said Turner, "But to put that out there for the public to see isn't proper."
Facebook photo shows recruit drinking in uniform
One photo, apparently taken in B.C., shows a Canada Border Services Agency officer drinking from a keg while in uniform. Consuming alcohol in uniform, on or off duty, is a direct violation of CBSA's code of conduct.
Another alleged officer, also pictured in uniform on the web, posted responses to a quiz — answering that she has cheated on a test, smoked pot and felt like killing someone.
When a friend apparently asks her, online, if she has been issued a gun, the officer answers, "I think the prime minister should be getting on the phone, and calling a few people and getting that straightened up real quick," said Turner.
The female officer also wrote: "I don't have a gun... YET!!! You will be the first one to hear about it when serial killer Harper gives me one."
It seems she didn't like training in Quebec. In postings, the writer refers to the province as "the land of poutine and frog," and "f---ing French bastards."
"If they are playing around with Facebook, saying those things, what are they going to do when they get a gun?" asks Hughes. "What kind of jokes and pictures are they going to take with firearms?"
A male officer, who posted his CBSA job title as "Bad Ass," did post a picture of the type of gun he expects to get, with the caption, "Soon enough, baby. Soon enough."
That same officer wrote he is "incredibly excited that he got to arrest someone again." There are pictures of men necking and holding each other down, apparently as a joke. The photos are labelled "Victoria Rape."
"It shows immaturity among people and that's exactly what it is," said Turner. "If this person is going to get a gun I think I would be really nervous if I were the traveller."
The former B.C. officers are also raising alarm bells about how new recruits performed on the job.
"Most of them lack the maturity, they lack the experience," Hughes said. "I've seen so many students that should have been referring so many prime candidates for secondary inspection and have just let them into the country."
According to the Customs Excise Union (CEUDA), which represents border services officers, the majority of staffers trusted to guard Canada's borders are either part-time students or new, full-time recruits, many who started as students.
The CBSA hires some 1,200 students each summer. Those being kept on, as full-time recruits, get nine weeks of training.
Part-time students are not issued firearms, but all recruits hired on full-time eventually will be. The minister responsible for public safety, Stockwell Day, has just announced a $50-million expansion of the Rigaud centre, to increase the number of recruits that can be trained.
CBC News asked Day for his reaction to the internet postings.
"The overall program of training our border officers is a very successful one," Day said.
"We have a highly credible, highly professional force of Canada Border Service agents, men and women. I meet with them on a regular occasion and get out to the borders themselves to meet with them.
"I'm very proud of what they do. There's always going to be a case where one or two or a few may be upset but when you are looking at 4,800 men and women across the country occupying those border station they are doing a great job."
Union says students not qualified
Last year, the CEUDA submitted a report to the Senate committee on national security and defence that said, "Students are not qualified to perform the duties to which they are being assigned, which compromises their own safety, that of other officers, the travelling public and Canadians at large."
The website postings Hughes found show confusion over passports.
One student asks others online, "Did anybody else panic when they saw their first Dutch or (insert weird foreign country) passport?"
Another answers, "Ha, ha. I totally freaked when I saw Österreich (Austria). It was the oldest, most sketch looking thing ever."
Turner's reaction was, "You can make up a phoney passport. If they don't know what it is and they don't know what they are looking at, then they could just let somebody in or let anybody in."
"If you were a terrorist and you wanted to get into Canada," said Hughes, "come when the students first go on the job."
Hughes said he has been sending letters of complaint to the CBSA and to Day for months. He claims most of his concerns have not been acknowledged.
"Anybody can see there is a problem," said Turner. "But nobody wants to do anything about it and that's the reason we had to come to [CBC News] and go public is because nobody else would listen."
The Canada Border Services Agency circulated an internal memorandum to employees on Aug. 24, warning about their participating in social networking websites.
"Even off-duty conduct becomes a work-related matter if it jeopardizes the agency's reputation or programs," said the memo obtained by CBC News.
"For these reasons, we would like to remind you that inappropriate behaviour by employees on such websites could result in administrative and/or disciplinary action," it said.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Guns on their hips, looking for info about your trip.
British Columbia’s southern border guards became some of the first in Canada to wear side arms this past weekend, as the Canadian Border Services Agency began to staff the Pacific Border Crossing at Surrey with armed officers. It’s the first in the eventual arming of all members of the service at all border crossings, including the Prince Rupert office.
There’s no word on when the local CBSA officers will be fully armed while on duty, but all will have to take comprehensive training program on the use of firearms. There are currently 4,800 officers who eventually will be trained and armed for duty, carrying a Beretta Px4 9mm handgun.
The Daily News featured the story as their front page item in Tuesday’s paper.
B. C. BORDER GUARDS AMONG THE FIRST TO START CARRYING GUNS
Feds plan to arm all officers in ‘points of entry’ but not timetable for Prince Rupert yet
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Page one
On Friday, the government announced that Canadian Borders Services Agents at the Pacific Highway border crossing in Surrey will be the next border guards to be armed, as guards at all crossings are incrementally equipped with weapons.
Langley MP mark Warawa made the announcement on behalf of Minister of Public Safety Stockwell Day, part of a Canada-wide plan to enhance border guard’s law-enforcement effectiveness and safety as they fulfill their duties.
“Canada’s new government is committed to a safe, secure and efficient border. We have fulfilled another election promise by arming our border services officers and giving them the tools and resources they need to protect our border,” said Warawa.
“Our government is committed to protecting those who protect our border. Enhanced border security means safer communities>”
In 2006, the government dedicated $101 million to a two-year process of training and arming CBSA officers and eliminating ‘work-alone situations’.
A total of 4,800 officers will have duty firearms at all land and marine ports of entry, including those officers responsible for enforcement within the country. The government insists nothing else to do with the CBSA officer’s authority, mandate, duties or responsibilities will change as a result of being armed.
The firearms will simply allow officers to “be better prepared and trained to deal with a broader range of options when handling potentially dangerous situations,” according to a statement from the CBSA website.
CBSA officers who have been issued duty firearms thus far have all gone through a rigorous training program, and are required to fulfill ongoing proficiency requirements such as annual recertification. It was determined after their own decision process that the official CBSA duty firearm would be the Beretta Px4 9mm handgun, which Border Services says performed well during testing, and surpassed requirements for being light, reliable, safe and easy-to-use.
In addition to the Pacific Highway crossing, the Ministry of Public Safety also announced Friday the deployment of armed officers at the Peace Bridge crossing in Fort Erie, Ontario.
There’s no word on when the local CBSA officers will be fully armed while on duty, but all will have to take comprehensive training program on the use of firearms. There are currently 4,800 officers who eventually will be trained and armed for duty, carrying a Beretta Px4 9mm handgun.
The Daily News featured the story as their front page item in Tuesday’s paper.
B. C. BORDER GUARDS AMONG THE FIRST TO START CARRYING GUNS
Feds plan to arm all officers in ‘points of entry’ but not timetable for Prince Rupert yet
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Page one
On Friday, the government announced that Canadian Borders Services Agents at the Pacific Highway border crossing in Surrey will be the next border guards to be armed, as guards at all crossings are incrementally equipped with weapons.
Langley MP mark Warawa made the announcement on behalf of Minister of Public Safety Stockwell Day, part of a Canada-wide plan to enhance border guard’s law-enforcement effectiveness and safety as they fulfill their duties.
“Canada’s new government is committed to a safe, secure and efficient border. We have fulfilled another election promise by arming our border services officers and giving them the tools and resources they need to protect our border,” said Warawa.
“Our government is committed to protecting those who protect our border. Enhanced border security means safer communities>”
In 2006, the government dedicated $101 million to a two-year process of training and arming CBSA officers and eliminating ‘work-alone situations’.
A total of 4,800 officers will have duty firearms at all land and marine ports of entry, including those officers responsible for enforcement within the country. The government insists nothing else to do with the CBSA officer’s authority, mandate, duties or responsibilities will change as a result of being armed.
The firearms will simply allow officers to “be better prepared and trained to deal with a broader range of options when handling potentially dangerous situations,” according to a statement from the CBSA website.
CBSA officers who have been issued duty firearms thus far have all gone through a rigorous training program, and are required to fulfill ongoing proficiency requirements such as annual recertification. It was determined after their own decision process that the official CBSA duty firearm would be the Beretta Px4 9mm handgun, which Border Services says performed well during testing, and surpassed requirements for being light, reliable, safe and easy-to-use.
In addition to the Pacific Highway crossing, the Ministry of Public Safety also announced Friday the deployment of armed officers at the Peace Bridge crossing in Fort Erie, Ontario.
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