SAINTE-ANNE-DE-MADAWASKA, NB,
June 20,
2024 /CNW/ - The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
is committed to keeping Canadians safe and ensuring individuals who
attempt to smuggle illegal firearms across the border are held
accountable.
On June 18, 2024, a New Brunswick man appeared in Edmundston
Provincial Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to numerous
firearm-related offences, including smuggling and firearm
manufacturing. Daniel Marcel Ruest
(57) of Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska,
NB was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison. This sentence is
the result of an investigation led by CBSA investigators in
New Brunswick, following a seizure
made by CBSA officers in Ontario.
In May 2023, border services
officers in the Greater Toronto Area Region intercepted three
suspicious parcels addressed to Ruest. The parcels contained a
firearm suppressor and two replica handguns, all of which are
considered prohibited in Canada.
The parcels were seized and the matter was referred to CBSA
Criminal Investigations in New
Brunswick for further investigation.
As a result of a collaborative investigation with the
Edmundston Police Force, CBSA
Criminal Investigations and local police arrested Ruest in
Edmundston, NB on September 11, 2023. Following the arrest, the
Edmundston Police Force conducted
a search of his vehicle and seized numerous items, including a .22
caliber shotgun, bear banger loaded with a 12-gauge cartridge, as
well as rounds of ammunition.
CBSA investigators and intelligence officers, with assistance
from CBSA Detector Dog Services, the RCMP National Weapons
Enforcement Support Team and New
Brunswick RCMP West District, then executed a search warrant
on Ruest's residence in Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska, NB. He was
transported to the Edmundston
Police station, where he was held until the search warrant was
completed.
During the search, CBSA seized six unsecured long rifles, six
unsecured sawed-off shotguns, an unsecured .38 caliber revolver and
an unsecured semi-automatic pistol, as well as four
self-manufactured firearms, brass knuckles, one stun gun, six
firearm suppressors, a ballistic vest and five prohibited spring
knives.
On April 4, 2024, Ruest pled
guilty to a number of Customs Act and Criminal Code
(CC) charges laid by CBSA Criminal Investigations. On June 18, 2024, he was convicted of the following
offences:
- S.159 Customs Act for smuggling;
- S. 99(1) CC Manufacturing of firearms;
- S. 91(1) CC Unauthorized possession of prohibited
firearms;
- S. 91(1) CC Unauthorized possession of a restricted
firearm;
- S. 91(1) CC Unauthorized possession of non-restricted
firearms;
- S. 91(2) CC prohibited devices;
- S. 92(2) CC prohibited weapon;
- S. 95(1) CC loaded prohibited firearms;
- S. 95(1) CC Prohibited firearm with readily accessible
ammunitions.
The sentence delivered to Ruest in court also included a number
of convictions on additional charges laid by the Edmundston Police Force, under the Criminal
Code and Controlled Drugs and Substance Act.
Quotes
"We are proud of the work CBSA employees are doing to keep
prohibited firearms and devices out of Canada. This type of collaboration with our
law enforcement partners and the resulting sentence makes a real
difference in protecting Canadians."
Corina Klattenhoff, Interim
Director of Enforcement and Intelligence Operations Division,
Canada Border Services Agency, Atlantic Region
Quick Facts
- Between January 1 and
December 31, 2023, the CBSA kept over
1,100 firearms and 24,400 prohibited weapons off our streets.
- Prohibited firearms and devices are high-risk commodities and
keeping them out of Canada is a
CBSA enforcement priority.
- For the latest weapons and firearms enforcement statistics,
visit Canada Border Services Agency seizures.
- View a list of restricted and prohibited goods, including
firearms.
- If you have information about suspicious cross-border activity,
please contact the CBSA Border Watch Line.
SOURCE Canada Border Services Agency