Prosecutions and Seizures

Southern Ontario Region

Guns, child pornography and drugs seized at Southern Ontario border crossings

Fort Erie, Ontario, August 10, 2012 – The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced the recent seizures of four firearms, drugs and child pornography at the Blue Water, Ambassador and Peace Bridges in the Southern Ontario Region. 

On August 6, 2012, at the Ambassador Bridge, two residents from Florida, a man and a woman, were referred to secondary examination after the male declared one firearm. During this examination, border services officers discovered a second undeclared loaded firearm, magazines and ammunition in the rear compartment of the motorcycle, and a baton concealed in the undercarriage of the motorcycle. Another undeclared firearm was retrieved without incident from the man's jacket pocket. A fourth loaded weapon was located in the right side compartment duffle bag. The man was charged under the Customs Act with making false statements, possession of illegal or prohibited goods and smuggling. Weapons charges by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit are pending.

On August 3, 2012, at the Ambassador Bridge, a male was referred for a secondary examination after telling border services officers that he took a wrong turn and came to Canada by mistake. During the examination, a laptop computer was searched and images of suspected child pornography were found. In total, two laptops, two external hard drives, two cell phones and numerous DVDs and CDs were removed from the vehicle. The man was arrested and charged under the Customs Act with possession of illegal or prohibited goods and smuggling.

On August 3, 2012, border services officers at the Peace Bridge examined a courier shipment declared as bed sheets and contained within two cardboard boxes. Officers discovered 13 kilograms of marihuana and one kilogram of hashish wrapped in plastic shrink wrap. The investigation is ongoing, and no charges have been laid to date. 

On August 3, 2012, officers at the Blue Water Bridge had three significant seizures. The first seizure involved four Illinois residents who were referred for a secondary examination. During the examination, border services officers discovered a small quantity of marihuana (14 grams) and 66 pills of ecstasy. The four individuals were arrested by the CBSA and charged by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Later that day, during an examination of a commercial vehicle, border services officers discovered 1.63 kilograms of Catha Edulis (Khat) located in the truck's cab, with the assistance of detector dog Maggie and her handler. The driver and co-driver, both residents of Scarborough, Ontario, were arrested by the CBSA and charged by the RCMP under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The last seizure involved a female resident of Indiana travelling to Kitchener to visit a friend. She was referred to secondary for an examination, during which border services officers discovered a loaded firearm.  The woman was arrested and charges are pending by the CBSA under the Customs Act. Criminal Code charges are also pending by the OPP.

On July 25, 2012, at the Blue Water Bridge, a resident of London was referred for an examination when officers discovered 3,000 pills of Salbutamol, a regulated narcotic under the Food and Drugs Regulations, concealed in the vehicle. The London resident was arrested and charges are pending by the CBSA under the Customs Act.  

"These seizures clearly demonstrate that our border services officers are committed to border protection and tackling crime," said Rick Comerford, Regional Director General, Southern Ontario Region. "Border services officers in the Southern Ontario Region have prevented weapons, drugs and child pornography from reaching the streets of our communities with these seizures and continue to make every effort to keep Canadians safe."

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For media information

Canada Border Services Agency
Southern Ontario Region
Telephone: 905-354-2011, 519-967-4330 or 905-933-5463
CBSA-ASFC_SouthernOntarioRegionNews@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca

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