Prosecutions and Seizures

Southern Ontario Region

CBSA seizes 12 handguns at the Blue Water Bridge

Point Edward, Ontario, August 11, 2011 – The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today that officers at the Blue Water Bridge in Point Edward, Ontario, seized a total of 12 handguns in two separate incidents on August 3, 2011.

During the examination of a motor home, border services officers discovered a loaded prohibited .38 calibre semi-automatic handgun in the outside storage compartment of the motor home. A 70‑year‑old man from Nevada has been charged by the CBSA under the Customs Act with failure to report goods, evading compliance and smuggling. He has also been charged under the Criminal Code with unauthorized possession of a firearm and unauthorized possession in a motor vehicle.

In a separate and unrelated incident, a minivan was selected for an examination. During the examination, border services officers uncovered ten prohibited handguns (including several semi-automatic handguns and a revolver) and one restricted handgun concealed throughout the interior of the vehicle. Of the 11 firearms seized, one of the semi-automatic handguns was loaded. A 73‑year‑old man from California has been charged by the CBSA under the Customs Act with failure to report goods, evading compliance and smuggling. He has also been charged under the Criminal Code with unauthorized possession of a firearm and unauthorized possession in a motor vehicle.

“The CBSA takes it border protection responsibilities very seriously, and our officers work diligently and vigilantly to prevent the smuggling of firearms across our borders,” said Rick Comerford, Regional Director General, Southern Ontario Region.

Since January 1, 2008, officers in CBSA’s Southern Ontario Region have seized 442 firearms.

The CBSA reminds all travellers that they are required to declare all goods they are bringing into Canada, including any firearms and weapons in their possession. Failure to declare goods (including firearms) and other Customs Act contraventions may lead prosecution in a court of law. Consult our Planning to Bring Firearms to Canada? page for information about your rights and obligations regarding the importation of firearms and other weapons into Canada.

Anyone with information about suspicious cross-border activity is encouraged to call the CBSA Border Watch Toll-free Line at 1-888-502-9060. All calls are completely confidential.

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For media information

Jean D'Amelio Swyer
CBSA Spokesperson
Tel.: 905-354-2011 or 519-967-4330
Cell: 905-933-5463

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