A Montrealer who failed to declare a fancy watch at the border was fined $35,000

In a Federal Court decision that begins with the judge remarking that "time is money," a business owner from Montreal was fined heavily for bringing in a high-end watch without registering it with customs.
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David Segall Blouin was ordered by Justice Sébastien Grammond on Tuesday to pay a $35,000 fine and $11,400 in sales tax in Quebec for a watch that he purchased for approximately $115,000 two years ago.

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Blouin took a plane to Philadelphia in August 2022 to purchase an A. Lange & Söhne watch from premium Bazaar, a company that sells used premium timepieces. According to the ruling, he went back to Montreal that same day but neglected to notify customs of the watch.

Blouin ordered the empty watch box to be transported to Canada separately by FedEx. Although he stated that he intended to pay duties when the box was delivered to him, Canada Border Services Agency investigators discovered that the package's manifest only indicated a six-dollar value.

A fine of $34,650, or 30% of the watch's worth, was imposed on Blouin.

Blouin, who runs a transportation and logistics business in Montreal, contested the punishment in Federal Court, arguing that it was irrational and failed to consider the specifics of his case. He asserted that he had previously imported less costly timepieces and paid customs upon delivery. This time, he explained, he intended to do the same thing.

But when Blouin flew back, Grammond didn't believe the narrative bringing this watch to Montreal, whereas the courier-sent parcel was deemed to be worth nearly nothing. He claimed that a border official had observed that the agency is aware of the common practice of bringing undeclared products into the nation and mailing the packing or invoice.

"In short, there is no reason to believe that Mr. Blouin intended to declare the watch, or that the whole affair was nothing more than a misunderstanding," the judge stated.

Blouin now has to pay the government's legal fees in addition to the penalties and sales tax.


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