CBSA firearm seizures on the rise in the Southern Ontario Region

News Release

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today that officers in the Southern Ontario Region have seized 101 firearms from April 1 to September 1, 2014. This represents a 46-percent increase compare to this same period last year, when 69 firearms were seized.

Here are some recent summer firearm seizures resulting in Customs Act charges:

On June 27, at the Blue Water Bridge, a Colorado man, Don Martin, was charged with failure to report goods, evading compliance, untrue statements, unlawful possession of prohibited goods and smuggling after border services officers found and seized an undeclared revolver, an undeclared handgun and an overcapacity magazine concealed in the centre console of his pickup truck.

On June 28, two undeclared handguns were seized by border services officers at the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel. A Florida man, Juan Cotarelo, pled guilty on September 4 to a CBSA charge under the Customs Act of failure to report goods and was convicted and fined. He was sentenced to pay a concurrent fine of $7,000 plus $2,100 for victim's surcharge.

On June 29, a Connecticut man, James Bascetta, was charged with smuggling; untrue statements and evading compliance when border services officers, at the Queenston Bridge, located and seized an undeclared revolver, an undeclared handgun and an undeclared semi-automatic pistol in a safe under the bed in his motorhome.

Finally, on July 21, Thomas Williams, of New York, was charged by the CBSA Criminal Investigations Unit following the seizure of a revolver, a replica revolver, a brass knuckle type weapon, a container of muzzle loading propellant and a box of lead round balls at the Ambassador Bridge port of entry.

Quick Facts

From January 1 to September 1, 2014, CBSA officers in the Southern Ontario Region have seized 117 firearms (non-restricted, restricted and prohibited) and 540 prohibited weapons and devices.
Canadian residents and non-residents importing firearms and weapons into Canada must declare them and meet all licensing and registration requirements under the Firearms Act.
Travellers may not import prohibited weapons or prohibited devices into Canada. This includes items such as pepper spray, mace, brass knuckles, switchblades, stun guns, silencers and replica firearms.

Quote

“The CBSA places a high priority on the detection and interdiction of undeclared firearms and prohibited weapons. Canadian firearms laws are clear. All travellers must declare any firearms and weapons in their possession when they enter Canada. Anyone who does not declare them upon arrival may be charged with the smuggling firearms into Canada.”

Rick Comerford

Regional Director General, CBSA Southern Ontario Region

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