A Vaughan, Ont., man is dealing with 29 charges after border brokers seized firearms, ammunition, cocaine, counterfeit cash and whole police uniforms from a house in Could.
At a information convention in Mississauga on Wednesday, the Canada Border Companies Company (CBSA) stated the costs towards the 38-year-old man comply with an investigation that started in March, when border providers officers on the Vancouver Worldwide Mail Centre intercepted and seized a package deal containing a prohibited weapon. The package deal was addressed to a Vaughan residence.
CBSA stated its firearms smuggling enforcement group linked the package deal to 2 different packages it seized, one in October 2021 and one other in February 2023.
The primary contained prohibited weapons, the company stated. The opposite contained faux Canadian police badges, faux police warrant playing cards, stencils of Alberta’s provincial emblem, and several other patches with regulation enforcement, intelligence and navy logos.
On Could 24, the CBSA stated its group executed a search warrant on the Vaughan dwelling. Investigators discovered “police marked paraphernalia” that made up full police uniforms, together with a number of ballistic vests, uniform elements, police id playing cards and regulation enforcement badges. The seizure additionally included handcuffs and batons.
Investigators additionally discovered one restricted firearm that was reportedly stolen, 4 prohibited firearms, six reproduction firearms, greater than 70 rounds of ammunition, 5 magazines, stun weapons, brass knuckles, prohibited knives, greater than 30 grams of cocaine and greater than $60,000 in counterfeit cash. In whole, greater than 400 objects have been seized, 160 of which have been “police identifiers,” they stated.
“In truth, as you may see right here right this moment, there have been sufficient uniform elements seized to make up full police uniforms from a number of police companies,” Joshua Newby, CBSA Ontario Firearms Smuggling Enforcement group director, instructed reporters.
Investigators stated they have been shocked and troubled by the variety of objects and so they imagine the overwhelming majority of steel badges seized have been counterfeit.
Objects seized by the Canada Border Companies Company from a Vaughan dwelling have been on show on Wednesday. (Submitted by Canada Border Companies Company)
The objects got here from China, investigators stated on the information convention. The steel badges have been believed to have been ordered on-line and shipped.
As for the firearms, 5 displayed on a desk on the information convention are absolutely useful whereas six should not, stated investigators.
There isn’t any proof that the police uniforms had been utilized in a selected manner and no proof that the accused was promoting the elements, they added.
No proof of bigger community, CBSA says
The person, who stays in detention, was charged with 29 offences. The CBSA stated it has no info to counsel the person was working with a bigger community of individuals however the investigation continues to be underway.
His charges embrace 26 legal charges, together with possession of prohibited firearms, possession of a restricted firearm, possession of counterfeit cash and possession of a weapon for harmful function, in addition to two charges below the Customs Act for smuggling prohibited weapons into Canada and one cost below the Managed Drug and Substances Act of possession for the aim of trafficking.
If residents are involved that they interacted with the accused when he was in a police uniform, they’re urged to contact the suitable police service, the CBSA stated, including if one thing feels off, it in all probability is.
