Got in trouble for bringing health products into canada

[oncefuturealien 45]

They don't necessarily ask if you have a record: they will sometimes ask if you've been arrested, which apparently you have. Then they invite you to explain the situation.

[iwlc18 0]

Getting into the US could be very tricky.

They might still refuse you entry, that's what I meant.

Yes, that's exactly what i am worried about and hence made a post here to see what others' experiences and opinions are.

[iwlc18 0]

UPDATE:

so i have talked to my friend who is working as an apprentice in a law firm. he looked over my case and we have decided to appeal it. it's a written appeal so there's no need to show up in person for anything. the worse outcome from the appeal is they reject my appeal and things remain the same as they are now, so there's no harm in trying because he believes that we have strong grounds to counter what CBSA had on me.

[caliliving 606]

I think you should calm down. Yes, you are flagged and they took notes that probably said what you brought into canada. US will be aware of this, as they now share information. The US will bring you into secondary and question you, search you. If you weren't arrested, say that. If they ask about the product, tell them. They will probably search you and bring you into secondary the next 6-10x so be prepared for a 3 hour wait each time you cross. I am sure you will get in, as you weren't arrested and have nothing on your arrest record! Answer the questions calmly, don't start blabbering on and don't get offensive!

Just don't bring any more bodybuilder products through the borders and don't have anything on you.

[caliliving 606]

UPDATE:

so i have talked to my friend who is working as an apprentice in a law firm. he looked over my case and we have decided to appeal it. it's a written appeal so there's no need to show up in person for anything. the worse outcome from the appeal is they reject my appeal and things remain the same as they are now, so there's no harm in trying because he believes that we have strong grounds to counter what CBSA had on me.

They didn't take your fingerprints and they didn't arrest you. I wouldn't necessarily worry about that appeal! They just seized your property for bringing in banned drugs. If you have a problem the next time you cross, then I would worry about it. But i am going to guess that you are OK to cross and they will search you and ask you questions for 3 hours, but since you weren't charged and you wont bring anything like that anymore, then you will be ok! if you want to keep bringing these bodybuilder pills back and forth, then yes that is a problem.

Be nice and curteous, answer the questions, don't get defensive and prepare for a 3 hour wait in case they bring you into secondary.

[oncefuturealien 45]

They didn't take your fingerprints and they didn't arrest you.

OP said in the first post that he was "arrested on the spot" so...

[Ontarkie 14,563]

The US side already knows about it, they don't care if something has been expunged, discharged , sealed or otherwise.

Now here is where I think you will get lucky.

If the supplement you bought is sold in the US they may not have an issue with why the Canadian side stopped you.

As for your appeal I think your friend is full of it.

You're going to appeal what?

You admitted you tried to bring in a controlled product into Canada. CBP detained you and took it from you. They then had you sign a form saying that they took it. There is nothing to appeal.

Are you going to try and say they didn't take it or that you didn't try to bring it in, because I really don't see how you can appeal something that happened??

You got lucky they didn't hold you for the police and charge you, they let you off with a flag in the system. They might question you more then normal but I don't think much will come to it.

As for the US side it will depend how they see what happened, they may not even blink twice about it. But you wont know till you cross.

That's my 2 cents

[iwlc18 0]

The US side already knows about it, they don't care if something has been expunged, discharged , sealed or otherwise.

Now here is where I think you will get lucky.

If the supplement you bought is sold in the US they may not have an issue with why the Canadian side stopped you.

yes that's on the optimistic side that then that will let me in without secondary. but it all depends on what details were included on the comment of the flag.

As for your appeal I think your friend is full of it.

You're going to appeal what?

You admitted you tried to bring in a controlled product into Canada. CBP detained you and took it from you. They then had you sign a form saying that they took it. There is nothing to appeal.

Are you going to try and say they didn't take it or that you didn't try to bring it in, because I really don't see how you can appeal something that happened??

You got lucky they didn't hold you for the police and charge you, they let you off with a flag in the system. They might question you more then normal but I don't think much will come to it.

As for the US side it will depend how they see what happened, they may not even blink twice about it. But you wont know till you cross.

That's my 2 cents

1. I did not admitted trying to bring in a controlled drug. I declared the product as per description on receipt.

2. CBSA unlawfully detained me, they arrested me for "smuggling controlled drugs" which is not true given I declared everything.

3. Appealing the case would give a possible chance of clearing the flag (I know there's no such thing, but at least a better documentation of the incident) I have nothing to lose by appealing, they cannot go back and charge me. But the least I can try here is to appeal their decision on the case.

This friend who is helping me is trustworthy and willing to help, he is currently taking this up with his colleagues to make sure he's not missing anything preparing my appeal.

[Boiler 46,308]

What is the basis of the appeal?

[JlovesA 109]

I haven't spent much time on these forums in years but I work as a support assistant in a law enforcement agency that deals with these sorts of things (I'm not going to specifically name it because I don't like being findable in google searches). I can tell you a few things almost with full certainty:

The USA more than likely does not know anything about this.

This is what's known in the "biz" as a "no case seizure." Your drugs were taken from you, you paid a fine, it's over. You may be searched or have a bit of difficulty returning to Canada the next few times, but you don't have a criminal record of course (I think you said you realized that). Any kind of flag is on CBSA's system and that's it.

I don't think there is anything you can appeal...maybe the fine? But I doubt it. You admitted you brought a prohibited substance into Canada. You learned your lesson, don't do it again, yada yada. I wouldn't worry TOO much about this.

[iwlc18 0]

I haven't spent much time on these forums in years but I work as a support assistant in a law enforcement agency that deals with these sorts of things (I'm not going to specifically name it because I don't like being findable in google searches). I can tell you a few things almost with full certainty:

The USA more than likely does not know anything about this.

This is what's known in the "biz" as a "no case seizure." Your drugs were taken from you, you paid a fine, it's over. You may be searched or have a bit of difficulty returning to Canada the next few times, but you don't have a criminal record of course (I think you said you realized that). Any kind of flag is on CBSA's system and that's it.

I don't think there is anything you can appeal...maybe the fine? But I doubt it. You admitted you brought a prohibited substance into Canada. You learned your lesson, don't do it again, yada yada. I wouldn't worry TOO much about this.

my concern here is what could the flag indicate? drug trafficking (or similar description)? or a mere "be careful this guy had issue entering before". those two descriptions would make a big difference IMO. and when you said US might not know anything about this, I thought (quite certain) that CBSA shares information with US boarder agency.

[blondedoc 35]

Just to let you know OP... These components of the formula are not steroids. They stimulate the body to release steroids by itself... Even because steroids as supplements are prohibited in America. So maybe you had no records because they made a research and find out that this is just an oral supplement and not exactly steroids.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Just to let you know OP... These components of the formula are not steroids. They stimulate the body to release steroids by itself... Even because steroids as supplements are prohibited in America. So maybe you had no records because they made a research and find out that this is just an oral supplement and not exactly steroids.

They may contain ingredients not legal in Canada without a prescription.

[iwlc18 0]

Just to let you know OP... These components of the formula are not steroids. They stimulate the body to release steroids by itself... Even because steroids as supplements are prohibited in America. So maybe you had no records because they made a research and find out that this is just an oral supplement and not exactly steroids.

They may contain ingredients not legal in Canada without a prescription.

Yes to Transborderwift, as mentioned in original post, "The officer later told me that the products were tested to contain amphetamine and this is what I was in trouble for".

I guess, for now, either i wait until my ATIP report arrives or go cross the boarder and try it out, to see what my current situation is when i crossing boarders.

[blondedoc 35]

Ok... They are not anphetamines, but ok. Probably just some components that are simply prohibited in Canada. If they said anphetamines I can tell you, as a doctor that they told that just to give you an answer.

I hope you will never have problems back again and you can be free from all this situation!