Luxury watch lands man hefty court fine
A man who failed to declare a nearly six-figure luxury Swiss watch after flying back to Canada in October 2010 was fined more than $17,000 in Richmond provincial court last week.
Yongbin Chen and his wife returned to Vancouver International Airport on Oct. 21, 2010 and was pulled aside for a secondary examination after initially using the automated border clearance self-serve kiosk.
The couple declared clothing and gifts, but when their luggage was inspected, the border services officer found a bag of birds nests, which were seized.
Following a further search of their luggage, border officers found a watch and a watch bag.
When Chen was asked if he had a watch, he said no, but then they found him wearing a Breguet luxury Swiss watch valued at $96,785.48, based on an invoice.
As a result of not declaring his watch, Chen was required to pay a civil penalty, in addition to the court fine.
All goods acquired while one is out of the country, including gifts, must be declared upon one's return home.
Possible penalties range from 25 to 80 per cent of the value of the seized goods.
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