A man from Hanover has been arrested after a shipment of firearm components was confiscated at the Canada/ U.S. border.

On September 28 of last year, officers from Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) were processing postal shipments at the International Mail Processing Centre in Mississauga, Ontario when they intercepted a suspicious package, destined for southeastern Manitoba from the United States. Upon closer examination, they found that the shipment contained undeclared firearm components, including metal parts and inserts most commonly used to reinforce the plastic frame of a 3D printed handgun.

Upon further investigation, the CBSA and RCMP jointly executed a search warrant at a residence in the RM of Hanover. On December 16, officers arrested a 34-year-old male who did not have a valid license to produce firearms and seized the following items as evidence:

  • two restricted 3D-printed handguns
  • a 3D printer with filament
  • three non-restricted firearms
  • a personal quantity of ammunition

The CBSA Criminal Investigations Section released the individual on conditions. He now faces charges of making false statements, two counts of manufacturing a restricted firearm, three counts of possessing a firearm without a license and two counts of failing to follow firearms storage regulations.

Anyone convicted of manufacturing firearms without authorization faces a mandatory minimum sentence of three years in prison.