British Columbia resident found guilty on five counts and sentenced to three years in jail

News release

Today, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced that Alex Louie was sentenced to three years in jail for five charges under the Customs Act and the Criminal Code of Canada.

On February 1, 2017, Mr. Louie entered Canada at the Osoyoos port of entry (POE) and was referred for a secondary examination. During the exam, border services officers discovered two prohibited handguns wired to the undercarriage of his vehicle. Mr. Louie was immediately arrested and afforded his rights.

The CBSA’s Criminal Investigations Section charged Mr. Louie with two counts of smuggling, two counts of possessing unlawfully imported goods, and one count of making false statements under the Customs Act; and two counts of possessing unauthorized firearms and two counts of importing firearms knowing it is unauthorized under the Criminal Code

On October 30, 2017, the jury at Penticton Supreme Court found Mr. Louie guilty of all nine charges; however, on December 21, 2017, four of the Customs Act charges were stayed by the Court. Convictions were registered on the five other counts.

On March 19, 2018, Mr. Louie was sentenced to three years in jail, which is the mandatory minimum sentence pursuant to Section 103 (2) of the Criminal Code. Mr. Louie is also banned from possessing any firearms for 10 years after his release from prison and banned for life from possessing any restricted or prohibited firearms.  

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Quotes

“Protecting the safety and security of the public by interdicting high-risk commodities, such as prohibited or restricted firearms, is an enforcement priority for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The CBSA takes violations of Canada’s firearm laws very seriously and the CBSA’s Criminal Investigations Section will prosecute those who wilfully fail to comply.”


- Harald Wuigk, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigations Section, CBSA

Quick facts

  • In 2016, a total of 212 firearms were seized throughout the Pacific Region. Of this number, eight firearms were seized at the Osoyoos POE.

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

     

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Contacts

Media Relations, Pacific Region
Canada Border Services Agency
Telephone: 604-818-9701
Email: PAC_CBSA-Communications@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca

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