28 illegal firearms seized in Cornwall; 126 charges were laid

A joint force investigation has led to the seizure of 28 illegal firearms in Cornwall and 126 charges laid against an Akwesasne man.

This investigation involved the Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST), the Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit (PWEU) of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Akwesasne Mohawk Police.

The investigation was launched after information came to light about a person involved in smuggling goods across the Canadian border from the United States.

On May 22, the investigation team conducted a stop on the vehicle under the Customs Act and a search was initiated.

Investigators found three suitcases containing 26 illegal handguns and two illegal assault rifles, as well as 37 boxes of ammunition, 20 prohibited overcapacity magazines, 74 magazines, a Glock upper receiver and a cell phone.

Steven Johnson, 38, of Akwesasne faces the following charges:

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking in arms (28 counts)
• Arms trafficking (28 heads)
• Possession of a firearm knowing that its possession is unauthorized (28 points)
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm (28 points)
• Possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition (five counts)
• Violation of transport regulations (four points)
• Unauthorized possession of a weapon (one count)
• Unauthorized possession in a motor vehicle (four counts)

The accused has been remanded in custody and is due to appear in court in Cornwall at a later date.

If you have information about suspicious cross-border activity, please contact the CBSA Border Surveillance Hotline at 1-888-502-9060.

“These firearms are consistently found to be used by organized crime groups to commit violent crimes such as robberies, car thefts, extortion and murder,” said OPP Detective Inspector Lee Fulford. “It is imperative that joint force investigations like this one continue and that Canadian law enforcement work with our U.S. law enforcement partners to reduce the flow of illegal firearms across our borders.”