August 3, 2022 Vancouver, British Columbia Canada Border Services Agency
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) fights organized crime by focusing on firearms-related offences at the border. Today, the CBSA in British Columbia (B.C.), announced that it has made two significant seizures of “ghost guns” in the B.C. Interior, following interceptions at international mail centres.
The importation by mail of 3D-printed firearms parts is a serious concern. Once in Canada, unlicensed individuals use these parts to assemble “ghost guns”, which are firearms that have no serial number.
These cases started when border services officers, in Vancouver and in Toronto, identified firearms parts arriving by international mail. This information led the CBSA’s Criminal Investigations Section to further investigate the people importing the firearms parts:
· On April 27, 2022, the CBSA executed a search warrant in West Kelowna, B.C. As investigators entered the residence, they observed a 3D printing machine that was in the process of printing a lower receiver for a handgun. They seized the evidence, along with six more handgun lower receivers with no serial number. Officers arrested a 46-year-old man and released him pending further investigation.
· On April 28, 2022, the CBSA executed a search warrant in Lumby, B.C. Investigators seized as evidence a loaded 9mm handgun with no serial number, nine non-restricted long guns, one prohibited knife, one stun gun, and four canisters of ammunition. The CBSA arrested a 27-year-old man who was prohibited from possessing firearms. He was released pending further investigation.
The CBSA’s Criminal Investigations Section is now reviewing all the evidence for violations of the Customs Act and Criminal Code. The CBSA may subsequently recommend that the Crown initiate prosecutions. Anyone convicted of manufacturing firearms without authorization is subject to imprisonment.
