FORT FRANCES, Ont. – A Missouri man has been charged with smuggling after he allegedly attempted to cross into Canada with a firearm.
Officials with the Canada Border Services Agency say investigators charged the man with non-report of goods, willful evasion and possession of illegally imported goods and smuggling.
The charges come after border officers found an undeclared firearm in his vehicle as he attempted to cross into Canada from the Fort Frances port of entry.
“Seizures like this serve as a reminder of the important role CBSA officers play in keeping our communities safe,” said Tuula Schuler, CBSA Northwestern District Director, in a media release issued Friday.
CBSA officials say 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.
The man was released on a $300US recognizance and has a court appearance scheduled for July 27 in Fort Frances on the charges.
This is the eighth handgun seized at the Fort Frances port of entry in 2015.
Quick Facts
• 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
