OTTAWA: Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) investigators have charged a Missouri man with non-report of goods, wilful evasion, possession of illegally imported goods, and smuggling under subsection 12(1), paragraph 153(c) and sections 155 and 159 of the Customs Act after officers found an undeclared firearm in his vehicle at the Fort Frances port of entry.
On June 24, 2015, Charles Russell Phillips of Unionville, Missouri sought entry to Canada to go to his cabin. During a secondary examination, border services officers found a loaded .22 calibre revolver in the glove compartment of his truck. The gun was seized and Phillips was arrested.
He was released on a US$300 recognizance and has a court appearance scheduled for July 27, 2015 in Fort Frances on the charges. This is the eighth handgun seized at the Fort Frances port of entry in 2015.
Canadian firearms laws are clear. Anyone importing firearms and weapons into Canada must declare them and meet all licensing and registration requirements under the Firearms Act.
Failure to declare goods, including firearms and weapons, and other Customs Act contraventions may lead to prosecution in a court of law.
Anyone with information about suspicious cross-border activity is encouraged to call the CBSA Border Watch toll-free line at 1-888-502-9060.
“Seizures like this serve as a reminder of the important role CBSA officers play in keeping our communities safe.”
