THUNDER BAY – On October 8, 2014, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) investigators at the Pigeon River port of entry (POE) charged Elaine Margaret Schwab-Sunderlin with non-report of goods, wilful evasion, possession of illegally imported goods, and smuggling under sections 12(1), 153(c), 155 and 159 of the Customs Act after she failed to declare a handgun and several boxes of ammunition.
“The CBSA takes its border protection responsibilities very seriously, including the interdiction of prohibited firearms and weapons. Firearm and weapon seizures like these serve as a reminder of the important role CBSA officers play in keeping our communities safe,” Tuula Schuler, CBSA District Director.
Schwab-Sunderlin, a fifty-seven-year-old women from of Lyons, Michigan, arrived at the Pigeon River POE on October 1, 2014, in a recreational vehicle (RV) and did not declare any firearms or weapons. She was referred for a secondary examination. During the search of the RV, CBSA officers found a loaded .38 caliber handgun and several boxes of ammunition. The handgun was seized with no terms of release.
Schwab-Sunderlin was released on a recognizance and her first court appearance date is set for November 21, 2014 in Thunder Bay.
Quick Facts
Canadian residents and non-residents importing firearms into Canada must meet all licensing and registration requirements under the Firearms Act.
Canadian firearms laws are clear. All persons, including Canadians, must declare all firearms and weapons in their possession when they enter Canada.
Failure to declare goods, including firearms and weapons, and other Customs Act contraventions may lead to prosecution in a court of law.
Anyone with information about suspicious cross-border activity is encouraged to call the CBSA Border Watch toll-free line at 1-888-502-9060.
