Prosecutions and Seizures

Greater Toronto Region

Canada Border Services Agency charges result in jail sentence

Mississauga, January 15, 2013 – The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today that an individual was sentenced to 12 months incarceration as a result of charges laid by CBSA criminal investigators.

On December 6, 2012, Mohammad Nabi Safi was sentenced in Brampton Provincial Court after being found guilty of the following charge under section 126 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA): one count of aiding and abetting persons to enter Canada illegally by withholding material facts that could induce an error in the administration of IRPA.

On August 18, 2011, Safi arrived at Toronto Pearson International Airport and was referred for a secondary examination. During the search, border services officers discovered two Dutch passports that did not belong to him.

At the same time, three travellers were found to be in the CBSA Primary Inspection Hall with no travel documents. Subsequent investigation by CBSA criminal investigators determined that Safi was withholding the passports in an effort to assist the travellers to enter Canada under false pretenses.

“The conviction and sentencing of Mr. Safi is just one example of the good work CBSA officers do to maintain the integrity of our borders and immigration processes,” said Goran Vragovic, Regional Director General of the GTA Region. “The sentence reflects the severity of the crime and reinforces the message that all those who seek entry into Canada must be in compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.”

If you have information about suspicious cross-border activity, please contact the CBSA Border Watch Toll-free Line at 1-888-502-9060.

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For media information

GTA Media Relations
Canada Border Services Agency
905-803-2800