Akwesasne man faces 126 charges for alleged gun smuggling through Mohawk territory
The investigative team conducted a vehicle stop on May 22 in Cornwall
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An Akwesasne man faces 126 criminal charges for allegedly smuggling dozens of firearms, magazines and ammunition into Canada through Mohawk territory in Eastern Ontario.
Ontario Provincial Police say the arrest made last week in Cornwall was the result of a joint forces investigation into gun trafficking from the United States that involved the Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST), Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit (PWEU), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service.
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“Illegal firearms continue to pose a serious risk to public safety,” OPP Det.-Insp. Lee Fulford, of the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, said Wednesday. “These firearms are consistently found to be used by organized crime groups to commit violent crimes such as robberies, carjackings, extortion and homicides.”
The OPP says the investigative team conducted a vehicle stop on May 22 in Cornwall – near the Mohawk territory of Akwesasne, which uniquely straddles the borders of New York state, Ontario and Quebec – under the Customs Act, and a search was initiated.
Investigators say they located three suitcases contained 26 illegal handguns and two illegal assault-style rifles. They also allegedly seized 37 boxes of ammunition, 20 prohibited overcapacity magazines, 74 magazines, one Glock upper receiver, and a cellphone.
“It is imperative that joint forces investigations such as this one continue and that law enforcement in Canada work collaboratively with our U.S. policing partners to curb the flow of illegal firearms across our borders,” Fulford said.
Steven Johnson, 38, is charged with 28 counts of possession for the purpose of weapons trafficking, 28 counts of weapons trafficking, 28 counts of possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized, 28 counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm, five counts of possession of prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition, four counts of contravention of transportation regulations, one count of unauthorized possession of a weapon, and four counts of unauthorized possession in a motor vehicle.
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The accused was held in custody while awaiting a court appearance in Cornwall.
“CBSA officers are always on the lookout for undeclared and prohibited firearms,” said Eric Lapierre, CBSA regional director general, Northern Ontario Region. “This significant seizure demonstrates our joint commitment to securing the border and keeping harmful goods out of Canada.”
“We will continue to work with law enforcement partners to disrupt criminal activity and keep our communities safe,” Lapierre added.
Anyone with information about suspicious cross-border activity is asked to call the CBSA Border Watch Line at 1-888-502-9060.
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