WINDSOR: Windsor border officers stopped handguns coming into the country via the Ambassador Bridge on three separate occasions last month, says the Canada Border Services Agency.
In each of the incidents, the illegal firearm was discovered when the subject vehicle underwent secondary examination on the Windsor side of the bridge.
The most recent of the cases happened on March 26. CBSA said a Michigan man was found to have an undeclared pistol stowed next to the driver’s seat of his vehicle.
The Michigan man was fined $2,660 and charged with multiple violations of the Customs Act, including failure to report, making false statements, and possession of unlawfully imported goods.
There was a similar incident on March 12 involving a man from Alabama. In his case, the firearm — which was loaded — was hidden underneath the driver’s seat.
The Alabama man was fined $1,000 and also charged under the Customs Act.
A case involving a vehicle with two occupants from Colorado took place on March 4.
The prohibited firearm was stored under the front passenger seat with two 19-round magazines.
The two Colorado residents were charged by CBSA under the Customs Act, and additionally charged by Windsor police.
At other border crossings in Ontario in March: three vintage sports cars that were being imported to Canada via the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia were found to have been undervalued by a total of nearly $37,000.
At the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie, two Mississauga residents coming back to Canada after a shopping trip in Buffalo were found to have 45.5 litres (33 bottles) of undeclared wines and spirits in the trunk of their vehicle.
