Randon Woolsey Lewis pled guilty to firearms smuggling in Creston Law Courts on July 21, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said in a press release today.
A year earlier, on July 21, 2013, Lewis — whose nationality was not specified in the release — did not declare any weapons when crossing through the Kingsgate port of entry, south of Yahk, but following a search of his vehicle, border services officers seized three unloaded handguns, one Taser and Taser cartridges.
“One handgun was found behind the driver’s seat, and the two other handguns, along with ammunition, were found in the box of the truck,” said the CBSA release. “The Taser was found in the console above the rear-view mirror, and the Taser cartridges were found in the centre console.”
Lewis pled guilty to one count of smuggling under the Customs Act and one count of unauthorized possession of a firearm contrary to section 91(1) of the Criminal Code. His sentence was a fine of $5,000 and a victim surcharge of $750.
Also, the firearms, weapons and Taser cartridges were seized by CBSA with no terms of release, and the vehicle was seized and released upon payment of a $3,500 penalty.
The day Lewis appeared in court, the CBSA arrested two travellers for smuggling firearms at the Osoyoos and Cascade ports of entry.
At the Osoyoos crossing, officers seized a U.S. resident’s .45-calibre handgun during a secondary examination. He was charged with one count of smuggling under the Customs Act, one count of possessing a restricted firearm and one count of possessing a loaded firearm under the Criminal Code of Canada. He was released on $2,000 bail and will appear in Penticton Provincial Court on Aug. 13.
At the Cascade crossing near Christina Lake, officers found two loaded handguns and five magazines under the sleeping bed of a travel trailer during a vehicle examination. The firearms, ammunition and the vehicle were seized, the traveller was arrested and the CBSA’s criminal investigations section is pursuing charges.
“These interceptions and the consequences imposed emphasize the severity of this matter,” said Anita Andersson, CBSA’s Okanagan and Kootenay District director. “Firearm laws, when entering Canada, are clear, and our border services officers are always on the lookout for illegal goods that could compromise the safety and security of Canada.”
From Jan. 1-July 22, border services officers made 30 seizures of firearms, weapons, parts and ammunition in the Okanagan and Kootenay District. A total of 22 firearms were seized (eight prohibited, 10 restricted and four non-restricted). Eight of these occurred at Osoyoos, and 15 took place from May 1 through July 22.