Traveller charged with smuggling assault-style guns into Canada

News release

September 18, 2020
Vancouver, British Columbia

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers remain diligent in their efforts to intercept high-risk commodities, like undeclared firearms, while conducting COVID-19 screening and enforcing enhanced border measures. Today, the CBSA Criminal Investigations Section announced charges against Corey Scott KETTERING, 33, of Alaska following an incident at the Abbotsford-Huntingdon, British Columbia port of entry on July 27, 2020 in which CBSA officers seized 14 firearms:

  • four prohibited semi-automatic rifles (assault-style);
  • three prohibited handguns;
  • one restricted handgun; and,
  • six non-restricted long guns.

KETTERING was arrested and released on an undertaking. He is scheduled to appear in Abbotsford Provincial Court on September 21, 2020 to face charges on the following counts:

  • smuggling, pursuant to Section 159 of the Customs Act (x1);
  • making false or deceptive statements, pursuant to Section 153(a) of the Customs Act (x1);
  • possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition, pursuant to Section 95(1) of the Criminal Code (x7); and,
  • unauthorized possession of a firearm, pursuant to Section 91(1) of the Criminal Code (x6).

Travellers are encouraged to leave their firearms at home when seeking entry to Canada. However, travellers with firearms must declare them to the CBSA officer at the first opportunity and meet import regulations.

Quick facts

  • As of May 1, 2020, more than 1,500 models and variants of assault-style firearms are now classified as prohibited and individuals cannot legally import them into Canada.

  • When an individual declares a prohibited firearm at the border, they will be offered the option to export or abandon it; if they fail to declare, the firearm may be seized and ultimately destroyed.

  • Failing to declare firearms can result in significant border delays, monetary penalties, criminal charges, loss of the undeclared guns, and the risk of visitors being banned from returning to Canada.

Associated links

Contacts

Luke Reimer
Communications Adviser
Canada Border Services Agency
Luke.Reimer@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
204-290-0688

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