Two American men are facing charges after border guards found several firearms in their vehicles when they tried to cross the border into Canada.
Border officials seized a total of 12 firearms within three days in two separate incidents.
The CBSA arrested a Utah man on July 14 after seizing seven firearms from his travel trailer.
Donald Lloyd Hardinger, 49, of Vernal, Utah, is facing four Customs Act charges; one count of making false statements and three counts of smuggling, and four Criminal Code charges; three counts of unlawful import, and one count of possession of a prohibited firearm.
The following weapons were seized from Hardinger's vehicle:
- .45 caliber handgun – restricted and loaded
- 12 gauge shot gun – non restricted
- 20 gauge shot gun – non restricted
- .270 caliber rifle - non restricted
- .270 caliber rifle - non restricted
- .22 caliber semi-automatic
- AR-15 rifle - restricted
Hardinger was released on $6000 bail and is scheduled to appear in Lethbridge Provincial Court on September 9, 2014.
Another American man was arrested two days later on July 16 after CBSA officers found five firearms in his van.
Christopher Michael Grosstephan, 33, of Colonial Beach, Virginia, is facing four Customs Act charges; one count of making false statements and three counts of smuggling and four Criminal Code charges; three counts of unlawful import, and one count of possession of a prohibited firearm.
A search of Grosstephan's vehicle yielded the following weapons:
- 9mm handgun – prohibited and loaded
- .44 magnum revolver - restricted
- .22 calibre revolver - restricted
- .22 calibre rifle - non restricted
- .30 calibre rifle - non restricted
Grosstephan was released on $6,000 recognizance and is scheduled to appear in Lethbridge Provincial Court on September 11, 2014.
“CBSA officers in the Prairie Region are relentless in their efforts to intercept firearms from being smuggled into Canada. Our goal will continue to be to target and disrupt smugglers in order to provide security to Canadians and to prevent these firearms from ending up in criminal hands,” said Kim Scoville, Acting Regional Director General, CBSA Prairie Region.
Both men face a possible fine of up to $25,000 or six months in jail if convicted by summary conviction; or a possible fine of up to $500,000 or imprisonment of five years if convicted on indictment.
So far this year, CBSA officers in southern Alberta have seized 30 undeclared firearms.
