Dr. Saxon Govender says the Canada Border Services Agency has unfairly added his name to its watch list. (CBC)An Edmonton doctor says he may have to resort to legal means to have his name removed from the watch list kept by the Canada Border Services Agency.

Dr. Saxon Govender is a devout follower of the Hindu religion. On Oct. 13, he was interrogated by border guards in Coutts, Alta., because of a religious artifact he carries.

"[The guard] called in another customs officer, who was standing off to the side with his hand on his gun, as if I was a real criminal, for crying out loud," Govender told CBC News.

During a vehicle search, the guard found a substance called vibhuti in Govender's laptop bag. Vibhuti is an ash carried by Hindus as a symbol of holiness.

The substance, given to Govender 20 years ago, was tested and showed trace amounts of an opiate derivative, Govender said.

'Given to me by a priest'

"It was given to me by a priest in a temple. How do I know what was in it?"

The holy ash was confiscated, and Govender wasn't charged with an offence.

A few weeks later, when he was going through Customs in Toronto, he was informed his name had come up on a watch list.

"My name would be on the list for seven years,'" he said. "Seven years and I would be stopped every single time I came into Canada. I thought how absolutely ridiculous, ludicrous, and so absolutely insensitive."

Border officials said they can't comment on the case because they're still investigating. Govender has written to the Canada Border Services Agency but heard nothing in reply, he said.