Canada border agency nabs Scarborough, Ont. man in $1,000,000 gold jewelry smuggling operation
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced that a two-year investigation has led to the conviction of a Toronto man, and corporation, for smuggling gold jewelry into Canada.
"This successful prosecution highlights the tireless work and great investigative efforts of both CBSA border services officers and our criminal investigations team," a statement from Lisa Janes, CBSA regional director general, Greater Toronto Area Region, reads. "The discovery of this [jewelry] smuggling scheme demonstrates our commitment to ensuring the integrity of Canada’s border laws and economy."
Back in early 2018, border officers at Toronto Pearson International Airport seized a "large quantity" of jewelry from a traveller, which prompted an investigation by the Greater Toronto Area Region Criminal Investigations Section. It was determined that the jewelry was the result of a smuggling operation.
In July 2018, a link to another traveller was determined, who also attempted to smuggle jewelry into Canada.
"In October 2018, as a result of evidence obtained through further investigation, CBSA criminal investigators determined that Lovely Gold Inc. and its director, Rahu Sinnathamby of Scarborough, schemed to enlist travellers to bring gold jewellery, such as earrings and bracelets, to Canada," the information from CBSA explains.
"Lovely Gold Inc. and Sinnathamby paid for the airline tickets of the travellers and directed them to not declare the jewellery to the CBSA. The investigation resulted in the discovery that Lovely Gold Inc. and Sinnathamby were responsible for smuggling jewellery into Canada over a period of 17 months."
On March 1, Lovely Gold Inc. and Sinnathamby pleaded guilty to two counts each of evasion of duties, with a total criminal fine for the four charges equalling $760,000.00. The individual and the corporation must pay an additional $246,614.40 in regulatory penalties.
