On May 22, 2024, Steven Johnson crossed into Canada through the Akwesasne reserve, which straddles the Canada-US border.
Once Johnson left Akwesasne, a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement team stopped his vehicle under the authority of the Customs Act.
In his vehicle, Police discovered three suitcases filled with 26 handguns, two semi-automatic rifles, 95 magazines of various capacities, 37 boxes of ammunition and a Glock upper receiver.[i]
Steven Johnson now faces 126 criminal charges, including weapons trafficking and unauthorized possession of ammunition and prohibited or restricted firearms.
“Illegal firearms continue to pose a serious risk to public safety,” said OPP Det.-Insp. Lee Fulford of the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau. “These firearms are consistently found to be used by organized crime groups to commit violent crimes such as robberies, carjackings, extortion and homicides.”
Note the language: Illegal firearms pose a serious risk to public safety.
If only Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government listened to police. But that’s another commentary entirely.
The agencies credited with this arrest are 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.
We commend all of these agencies for stopping these illegal guns and ammunition from reaching the criminal underbelly of GTA.
3D Printed Gun Busts
Smuggling isn’t the only way criminals get their guns. In recent years, 3D printed firearms are an increasing concern for police.
On June 12 & 13, 2024, police arrested of thirteen (13) people in seven cities across Quebec, all in connection with the illegal manufacture of 3D printed guns.[ii]
The RCMP said they seized a “significant quantity” of 3D printers and one homemade firearm.
Pascal Tribout, 37, was among those arrested. He faces five charges including weapons trafficking, wilful promotion of hatred, possession of a prohibited firearm and possession and distribution of data that can be used to manufacture firearms with a 3D printer.
“B’nai Brith Canada played a pivotal role in an RCMP investigation leading to the arrest of Pascal Tribout, a Quebec man accused of inciting violence against the Jewish community, and the seizure of a significant quantity of 3D printers as well as a homemade firearm.
“B’nai Brith was able to gather crucial information about his hate-motivated conduct. B’nai Brith’s intelligence culminated in a significant operation by the RCMP.”[iii]
“Mr. Tribout also allegedly made hateful comments against the Jewish community in a public forum on the social network Telegram, contrary to the Criminal Code, states an RCMP press release. “Additionally, Mr. Tribout is alleged to have possessed and shared computer data that could be used to manufacture firearms with a 3D printer, which is also illegal.”[iv]
Pascal Tribout remains in custody pending further legal proceedings.
Meanwhile, Back in Ottawa…
The Liberal-NDP coalition insists that licensed firearms owners who pass all required safety training courses and an RCMP background check are the true villains, not the gun smugglers and illegal weapons manufacturers police arrested recently.
We continue to work towards an electoral solution, since common sense in Ottawa is on vacation, apparently since October 2015.
We remember a time when firearms owners were considered the best example of Canadian citizenship and look forward to our reputation being restored after the next federal election.
[i] https://torontosun.com/news/crime/akwesasne-man-faces-126-charges-for-alleged-gun-smuggling-through-mohawk-territory
[ii] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/13-arrests-rcmp-firearms-3d-printers-quebec-1.7235299
[iii] https://www.linkedin.com/posts/b-nai-brith-canada_huge-advocacy-win-bnai-brith-canada-played-activity-7207469004142051328-3rZI/
[iv] https://www.rcmp.gc.ca/en/news/2024/individual-charged-3d-printing-firearms-and-hate-speech
