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Toronto man fined $ 4,000 for unlawfully importing animals into Canada

Arjoon Deonauth of Scarborough, Ontario pleaded guilty on February 11, 2005 in Ontario Provincial Court in Brampton to violating subsection 12(1)(a) of the Health of Animals Regulations by unlawfully importing animals into Canada without the necessary permit. Mr. Deonauth was fined $4,000 for the offence.

On July 24^th, 2002, at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) inspectors discovered 17 finch (birds) from Guyana in small ventilated plastic containers inside Mr. Deonauth’s jacket which contained multiple pockets and false compartments. Mr. Deonauth did not have the required import permit for the undeclared animals. His jacket, the containers and the animals were seized by the CFIA.

Animals and plants brought into Canada are monitored and inspected to prevent the introduction of diseases and pests that could pose a risk to our health, wildlife, pets, livestock, crops and forests.

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