Two Americans were fined $16,000 apiece for traveling to Canada using forged vaccine documents.
According to Fox News, they also fabricated pre-departure COVID tests and were cited for failing to comply with Canada’s standards for post-arrival testing and accommodations.
Visitors entering Canada must have a negative COVID test result before boarding the plane and must then quarantine at an approved hotel in Canada until another COVID test comes back negative, according to Canada’s public health ministry; however, the criteria are relaxed for fully vaccinated tourists.
The individuals in question arrived in Toronto from the United States during the week of July 18th.
Officials cited the two for “non-compliance” with government standards for lodging and testing upon arrival, as well as for falsifying vaccination certificates and pre-departure examinations.
The agency also stressed that all passengers must correctly answer the questions and that providing false information is a serious offense.
“Violating any quarantine or isolation instructions provided to travelers by a Screening Officer or Quarantine Officer while entering Canada is also an offense under the Quarantine Act and for each day of non-compliance or each offense committed may result in a fine of up to $5,000, or a more severe penalty, including up to six months in prison and/or a fine of $750,000,” PHAC noted.
The Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA) claimed it searched for counterfeit passports in collaboration with “domestic and international partners.”
