A cash seizure at the Calgary airport occurred under the Crime and Terrorist Financing Act when border patrol agents caught a man traveling to the Middle East with a large amount of undisclosed cash. During an interview with the traveler on January 15 officials with the Canadian Border Service Agency the traveler told officials that he had $9,000 in cash but a further inspection proved that this was false. After searching the traveler and his bags agents discovered that the man had over $18,000 in his jacket and his carry on luggage. Another $20,000 was found when officials searched the checked bags that the man had. Lisa White, the spokesperson for the agency, explained that “The cash was seized due to its ability “to potentially finance organized crime or terrorist activity.” All fo the cash located during the search was in Canadian currency, all in the form of $20 bills.

The goal of the Crime and Terrorist Financing Act is to prevent terrorism financing, and this was the reasoning behind the cash seizure at the Calgary airport. According to CBSA officials the man was from a lower income level, and that raised suspicions because of the large amount of cash being transported. When asked where the money came from the man could not provide an explanation that was adequate and reasonable, so the money was seized. White stated “It gives the CBSA the ability to investigate people for currency that’s not declared/ There’s no crime but it can be seized if there could be potential charges — if we feel there might be, we hand it over to the RCMP.” No charges have been filed yet against the man but he could be charged once the investigation is complete.