News Release

Pacific Region

Mission businessman fined $21,000 for making false statements to CBSA

Vancouver, British Columbia, January 30, 2013 — The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) today announced that the British Columbia (B.C.) Supreme Court fined George Thomas Tickell of Mission, B.C. $21,000 for making false statements to the CBSA with respect to the importation of replica firearms.

The CBSA charged Tickell in July 2008, after a two-year investigation by the CBSA's Criminal Investigations Division (CID) in Pacific Region. As the owner of the business, Geo Tec Concepts Ltd., Tickell had obtained a firearms licence, which granted him authorization to import prohibited devices (replica firearms) for use in the movie industry. When the CID executed search warrants at his business, the evidence it collected revealed that the replica firearms were not imported for use in the movie industry. Nearly all of the replica firearms imported by Tickell's company were sold to a local retail outlet with the knowledge that the prohibited devices would be sold to the public. In June 2012, Tickell pled guilty to making false statements to the CBSA.

"This significant fine demonstrates the serious nature of the crime. Replica firearms can easily be mistaken for real weapons and the dedication of our investigative officers, particularly in this lengthy case, reflects their diligence and commitment in protecting the health and safety of Canadians," said Yvette-Monique Gray, Director of the CBSA's Enforcement and Intelligence Division in the Pacific Region.

For information about your rights and obligations regarding the importation or exportation of firearms and other weapons into and out of Canada, visit the CBSA Web site.

If you have information about suspicious cross-border activity, please contact the CBSA Border Watch Toll-free Line at 1-888-502-9060. All calls are completely confidential.

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Media Information

Stefanie Wudel
Canada Border Services Agency
604-666-3071

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