Prosecutions and Seizures

Atlantic Region

Halifax man sentenced in firearm smuggling case

Halifax, Nova Scotia, June 25, 2013 — The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today that Halifax resident Craig Redmond was sentenced on June 21 in Halifax Provincial Court on Customs Act and Criminal Code charges to six months house arrest followed by a three-month curfew, and must complete 200 hours of community service. On March 8, 2013, Redmond pled guilty to two counts under the Customs Act for smuggling, possessing and distributing illegal weapons and eight counts under the Criminal Code for possession of a prohibited weapon and several counts of possession of a firearm.

On May 18, 2012, CBSA officers at the Vancouver International Mail Centre intercepted and seized a shipment containing brass knuckles destined for a Halifax address. As a result of this interception, Atlantic Region Criminal Investigations Unit launched an investigation and on August 1, 2012, CBSA Investigations executed search warrants on the residences of Craig Redmond and Conor Lively. Six handguns, ammunition and a prohibited handgun were seized during the search of Redmond's residence. The handguns were handed over to the Halifax Regional Police.

Conor Lively previously pled guilty to smuggling, possessing and distributing brass knuckles and received an 18-month Conditional Sentence Order and 10-year weapons ban on February 17, 2013. Throughout the sentence, he is prohibited from consuming alcohol and drugs, from possessing weapons and from having contact with Craig Redmond.

"Our officers are the first line of defence in protecting Canadians from the smuggling of weapons”, says Albert Price, Acting Director, Enforcement and Intelligence. "Stopping smuggling plays a big part in making our communities safer.”

The CBSA remains committed to keeping dangerous and illegal weapons out of our communities and welcomes all tips on illegal cross-border activity. If you are aware of any weapons being imported into Canada, and/or distributed within Canada, please contact the CBSA's Border Watch Toll-Free Line at 1-888-502-9060, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

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