Man charged with forging fake negative Covid test result to enter Canada

Traveller had actually tested positive

Man was caught entering Toronto Pearson International Airport (Getty Images)

A man was charged after allegedly entering Canada was a fake negative Covid-19 test result.

Police said the man’s test certificate “was revealed to be fraudulent” when inspected by a quarantine officer and an officer from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) at Toronto Pearson International Airport on 8 February.

The 29-year-old man from Stratford, Ontario, had in fact tested positive for coronavirus, according to police.

He was arrested and charged with unlawfully using a forged document. Officers “determined that there were no additional offences”, reports Global News.

Citizens entering Canada from abroad must present a negative Covid test result before boarding their flight.

Those touching down at Toronto airport must also take a second test on arrival.

It follows the news that 45 people tried to enter Croatia using fake Covid-19 PCR test certificates in one weekend alone during January.

According to Croatian police, the perpetrators were detained and, if found guilty, could face up to three years in prison, reported Total Croatia News.

The travellers were all stopped trying to cross the border from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Travel restrictions currently state that people can only enter Croatia from the neighbouring country if they present evidence of a negative PCR test or a doctor's certificate proving they have already been infected with and recovered from the virus in recent months.

The issue of travellers presenting fake coronavirus certificates is not new, but the weekend of 16-17 January saw the highest number of forgeries recorded to date.

Police filed criminal charges against all 45 suspects with the Municipal State Attorney's Office in Slavonski Brod. The maximum sentence for forging a document is three years’ imprisonment.