Canada has become one of the hottest japa destinations for Nigerians. The number of Nigerians that have relocated to the country has steadily climbed over recent years. According to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, up to 1,905 Nigerians permanently reside in Canada as of April 2024, its highest since March 2023.
The reasons for such an influx of Nigerian immigrants are pretty obvious. For one, Canada is generally cheaper than the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Also, the cost of living is more affordable.
Despite Canada’s favourable immigration policies, certain rules must be obeyed if you want your relocation to be seamless. One of them is knowing items that are considered contraband within the country.
Therefore, this article presents the top 7 items you probably never knew are contraband in Canada.
7 items you never knew are contraband in Canada
Guns and ammunition
Guns and ammunition are not allowed into Canada and, therefore, are considered contraband for defaulters. Although rifles and shotguns may be permitted for hunters or if the person is driving through to Alaska, they are generally not allowed through check-in points at the airport. So, if you are not looking forward to being detained and drilled for hours as a potential terrorist at the airport, do not take any of these weapons. Alternatively, you are mandated to declare any weapon at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) port of entry.
Alcohol and tobacco
Alcohol and cigarettes are generally not considered contraband by Canadian immigration authorities. However, when they are undeclared or exceed a certain limit, then there is a problem. For instance, it is best to limit the transportation of cigarettes into Canada to one carton or even less. Also, the quantities of alcoholic beverages you can import must be within the limit set by provincial and territorial liquor control authorities where you will enter Canada.
Illicit drugs
Canada is quite liberal when it comes to certain drugs. For instance, marijuana, also known as cannabis or weed, is legal. But they are considered contraband if you import them without authorisation. Only Health Canada retains the authority to issue permits or grant exemptions to import or export cannabis or cannabis products.
Food and plants
If you are thinking of taking that fresh meat that your village uncle sent as a japa gift along with you into Canada, you should think again. According to CBSA, fresh food items and plants fall under the category of prohibited or restricted goods. This means that you should endeavour to declare any food and plants that you are bringing into the country. Canada is constantly on the lookout for diseases like E. Coli, plant-invasive alien species, such as the Asian Long-Horned Beetle, avian influenza and foot-and-mouth disease.
Animals or pets
Like food and plants, animals and animal-based products are considered contraband if they are not declared. Being a lover of animals does not give you the right to bring in your pet without authorisation from the Canadian authorities. This is because the country is wary of animal-based diseases like avian influenza and foot-and-mouth disease.
Weapons
Weapons such as tasers, pepper spray/mace or brass knuckles and even your regular baseball bat are not allowed into Canada unless you have authorisation. Also, explosives, fireworks and certain types of ammunition are considered contraband without a written authorisation or permit.
Consumer products
Consumer products, such as baby walkers and jequirity beans, are usually not allowed into Canada. These products are generally considered unsafe for the public. Instead of japaing with them into Canada, it is best to sell them off and get new ones once you are in the country. Also, you should take a look at consumer products that have safety requirements in Canada. Many of these rules are usually stricter than other countries.
Conclusion
The list is by no means an exhaustive one. However, these are the top 7 items that you may not know are contraband when you try to take them into Canada. Some of the other items not mentioned are vehicles, a currency that is more than CAN$10,000 and obscene materials like child pornography, among many others.
Make sure you follow the immigration rules of Canada, concerning items that are allowed into the country or otherwise to be clear on what to bring or what not to bring. It will save you a lot of hassles at the airport or around the Canadian border.
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