The Canada Border Services Agency revealed on 7 October that officers at Windsor’s three crossings—Ambassador Bridge, Gordie Howe International Bridge and the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel—confiscated ten firearms, eight magazines and 67 rounds of ammunition in the week of 20-27 September. Eight US travellers now face criminal charges and fines ranging from C$1,000 to C$2,000. The seizures underscore the agency’s “zero-tolerance” stance as south-to-north recreational travel rebounds to near-pre-pandemic levels. CBSA officials say many travellers remain unaware that firearms must be declared and, in most cases, are inadmissible without an import permit. Some offenders claimed the weapons were forgotten in glove compartments; others, according to charging documents, deliberately concealed handguns in RVs and commercial trucks. For corporate travel managers routing employees through Detroit–Windsor, the message is simple: ensure assignees double-check vehicles and luggage for prohibited items before arrival. Failure to declare can lead to arrest, vehicle seizure and long-term ineligibility for NEXUS trusted-traveller privileges. The Windsor corridor is Canada’s busiest commercial gateway, moving C$400 million in goods daily. CBSA says stepped-up inspections will continue through Thanksgiving weekend, a period traditionally marked by high cross-border traffic. Companies moving sensitive cargo or high-value executives should budget extra transit time in case of secondary inspections prompted by the heightened enforcement posture.
Source: Windsor News Today
