The Canada Border Services Agency says a man from the United States pleaded guilty in Lethbridge Provincial Court after an incident in Coutts last year.
In February, Randy Keith Thompson, a U.S. citizen, was convicted after pleading guilty to attempting to smuggle a loaded Ruger LC 380 handgun into Canada.
Thompson received an $8,000 fine and a 10-year conditional firearms prohibition order and was ordered to forfeit the seized firearm and magazines.
CBSA says that on September 8, 2024, he attempted to cross into Canada at the Coutts port of entry. After properly declaring two non-restricted firearms, Thompson was questioned by border services officers and referred for a secondary vehicle search, where he admitted to having an undeclared and loaded handgun in the vehicle.
Officers arrested Thompson and charged him for offences under the Customs Act and the Criminal Code.
“Stopping prohibited firearms from coming into Canada is part of the CBSA’s commitment to protect our communities,” notes Janalee Bell-Boychuk, regional director general, CBSA Prairie Region. “This conviction demonstrates the important work being done at our borders and the consequences individuals face for smuggling. The CBSA will continue to remove illicit firearms from our streets and investigate those who break Canada’s laws.”
In 2024, the CBSA in Alberta seized about 60 firearms and 820 prohibited weapons.
