The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced that Donald Hare of Toronto pled guilty on April 13, 2015 to charges under the Customs Act for false statements and smuggling, as well as a number of Criminal Code charges. Hare received an eight year sentence, with four years under the Customs Act and four years under the Criminal Code, along with forfeiture of his guns and vehicle.
The charges were the result of a joint investigation led by the Toronto Police Service, involving the CBSA, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms – Canadian Liaison, Peel Regional Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police. The investigation led to a seizure at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls on March 16, 2014, when a secondary inspection of Hare’s vehicle resulted in border services officers finding seven undeclared pistols and 12 undeclared magazines. The CBSA’s Criminal Investigations Division arrested and charged Hare under the Customs Act and he was turned over to Toronto Police Service, who proceeded with criminal charges.
Anyone with information about suspicious cross-border activity is encouraged to call the CBSA Border Watch toll-free line at 1-888-502-9060.
Quick Facts
- Canadian residents and non-residents importing firearms into Canada must declare them and meet all licensing and registration requirements under the Firearms Act.
- Failure to declare goods, including firearms, and other Customs Act contraventions may lead to prosecution in a court of law.
- 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
“With our integrated partnerships we are able to anticipate, detect and disrupt potential threats including the smuggling of firearms across Canada’s borders. The CBSA takes its border protection responsibilities very seriously and has strict procedures regarding the importation of firearms.”
- Goran Vragovic, CBSA Regional Director General, Greater Toronto Area Region
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Contacts
CBSA Media Relations
Greater Toronto Area
905-803-2800
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