Border guards at the Douglas (Peace Arch) crossing seized a loaded handgun from a northbound vehicle last week, after officers noticed a holster on the hip of a driver attempting to enter Canada.
A search of the vehicle the afternoon of May 5 found a loaded 9-mm handgun and two prohibited high-capacity magazines under the front seat, said Faith St. John, spokesperson for Canada Border Services Agency.
A U.S. resident was arrested at the scene and charges are pending. The weapon, ammunition and vehicle were all seized.
St. John noted travellers who fail to declare firearms or ammunition that are in their possession when they enter Canada risk smuggling charges.
As an example, she pointed to California resident Darryl Lawrence Little. Little was sentenced in March to a year in prison for smuggling two handguns and occupying a vehicle in which he knew there were firearms.