Weapons smuggling

Border services’ gun smuggling busts ‘showcasing’: criminologist

If you feel safer from gun violence thanks to news that border agents have been catching U.S. handguns at the border recently, you’re likely mistaken.

The Canada Border Services Agency announced on Tuesday that two travellers busted with guns at the Abbotsford border crossing were convicted of smuggling, and on Monday the agency announced it had caught a woman in Prince Rupert who had hidden parts of a handgun throughout her car while driving from Alaska.

“Canadian firearms laws are clear,” CBSA said in a press release. “Anyone importing firearms and weapons into Canada must declare them and meet all licensing and registration requirements under the Firearms Act.

“Failure to declare firearms and weapons may lead to prosecution in a court of law.”

California resident Rodrick Hines, 32, was arrested on May 4 with a .40-calibre pistol and two large-capacity magazines under his car’s dash, and pleaded guilty to smuggling. Several weeks later, Washington resident Kiho Kang, 48, was caught with a 9mm restricted handgun and five large-capacity magazines in his trunk; he also pleaded guilty to smuggling.