From todays local paper:
COBURN GORE — A Canadian man is in a Maine jail after his GPS directed him to a remote U.S. border crossing where agents found a pound of marijuana in his car.
Officials say 54-year-old Darrell Fudge was driving from British Columbia back to his home in Newfoundland Sunday and he did not intend to enter the United States, but his GPS gave him the shortest route, which led through northern Maine.
Federal authorities found the marijuana in a cooler. They turned the case over the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Fudge appeared in court Monday in Lewiston. His attorney says Fudge wants to settle the case.
The Sun Journal newspaper says Fudge is being held on $5,000 bail. He's expected to appear in court again on Wednesday.
I know that border crossing well. The agents who man it will be talking about the "big bust" for decades.:-)
Did he actually cross into the U.S., or did they get him at the border?
If they got him at the actual border could he have not said he made a mistake and turn around, or will they search your vehicle regardless?
Agents operate on home soil, no authority across the line.
jud
Jud's got it, you cross the boarder, then stop at customs....:-P
As Jud said, the U.S Customs checkpoint is on U.S. Soil as the Canadian checkpoint is on Canadian soil. When entering Canada or the U.S. the country that you are leaving doesn't do an exit check. It is only the receiving country that checks your papers.
The U.S. is much tougher in their checks and in my experience sometimes rude. The Canadian checkers, in my experience, are more often very pleasant young women who smile a lot. 🙂
Damn, too bad he didn't see the signs before he crossed the border--must have sampled his cargo beforehand.
You are probably correct. 🙂 The problem is that once you realize where you are it is too late to turn around. If you do make a U-turn they will send someone to apprehend you with the same result, but I guess it is much better to get busted in Canada than it is in the U.S.
