The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) seized 56 illegal firearms earlier this month that a woman in quarantine from Florida was illegally transporting near the Canada-U.S. Border
On November 1, CBSA officers intercepted Vivian Richards, a 48-year-old woman from Oakland Park, a town in Florida, while she was driving through a village in southern Ontario. They then found that the lady was carrying 56 illegal firearms, as well as dozens of magazines, 10 rounds and around 100 ammunition. These items, which were in the trunk of the car, were all seized.
Ms. Richards has been charged in connection with various offenses, including possession and acquisition of imported goods as well as attempted smuggling. Some of the accusations suggest that some of these firearms did not have serial numbers and were intended for “arms trafficking”. Ms. Richards will appear again on November 24, as the CBSA investigation continues.
“The smuggling of firearms constitutes a threat to public safety and this seizure is an example of our firm commitment to prevent dangerous criminal activity and to ensure the safety of Canadians”, the federal minister reacted in a press release on Saturday. from Public Security, Marco EL Mendicino.
In recent days, both the City of Montreal and the Legault government have urged the federal government to do more to fight gun violence, following the death of a 16-year-old teenager in Saint-Michel. , last Sunday.
The Minister of Public Security of Quebec, Geneviève Guilbault, notably underlined the importance of ensuring a better blockage of illegal firearms that transact at the border with the United States. The mayoress of Montreal, Valérie Plante, for her part reiterated her demand for a ban on the possession of handguns across the country.