Recently I had the experience of having my whole car and luggage searched by Canada Customs officials at Emerson. Maybe we appeared too shifty, maybe we looked like we might have bought $5 more than our 24 limit of $100. $50 each per person. The customs officer said to us, "stand in front of the car we're we can see you". I was waiting for the "keep your hands on the hood at all times" line next.

In the end, customs officials did their job and we're probably written up somewhere as an example of a successful search and how to spot lawbreakers. Our purchases were below the limit as we stated, yet they found we had 1 small bottle of Aleve painkiller in our possession (an old sports injury) which we had bought in the US over the counter. We learned this product cannot be brought into Canada because it needs to be provided by prescription. There may be many others. We've learned. Ignorance is no defence. Don't be an "aleve lawbreaker".

Handing Links for People and Goods Entering or Returning To Canada