A 56-year-old Brampton man, Chandrakant Patel, has pleaded guilty to smuggling more than $227,000 (U.S.) across the Niagara border. He has been sentenced to 12 months of house arrest after failing to declare the large sum of cash at the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge.
In October 2023, Patel and another individual told Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers they were carrying less than $10,000. However, a secondary search revealed $227,400 (U.S.) concealed in their vehicle, with a Canadian equivalent value of over $312,200.
The currency was seized under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, and the case was subsequently investigated by the RCMP’s Niagara-on-the-Lake Border Integrity Unit, alongside the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC).
“This case underscores our commitment to stopping money laundering across the country,” said Sgt. Lepa Jankovic of the RCMP. CBSA regional director Christine Durocher emphasized the importance of intercepting illicit funds to disrupt organized crime networks.
By law, any individual crossing the border with currency or other monetary instruments exceeding $10,000 must declare it to the CBSA, including both Canadian and foreign currencies.