California man gets 27 months in Canadian prison for attempting to smuggle 'ghost gun' over the border
A California man has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for attempting to smuggle a ghost gun across the Canadian border last year, authorities announced Friday.
U.S. citizen Jerry Armas pleaded guilty in March to possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition and smuggling a firearm, the Canada Border Services Agency Pacific Region said in a news release.
The charges stemmed from Armas's arrest at the Douglas port of entry – better known as the Peace Arch border crossing – in Surrey in March 2023, the CBSA said.
According to the agency, Armas attempted to cross the border without a declaration. CBSA officers searched his vehicle and found 18.1 grams of cocaine and "a privately made, un-serialized nine-millimetre ghost gun," plus 118 rounds of ammunition.
Armas's sentence includes 25 months for possession of the weapon and two months for the smuggling offence, the CBSA said, adding that he was also given a lifetime firearms prohibition.
"Stopping prohibited firearms from coming into Canada is part of CBSA’s commitment to protect our communities," said Nina Patel, regional director general for the CBSA Pacific Region, in the release.
"This conviction and sentence demonstrate the important work being done at our borders and the consequences individuals face for smuggling."
During the first 10 months of 2023, officers working in the CBSA Pacific Region seized 13,400 weapons, which was more than half of all weapons seized by the national agency during the period.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air turbulence: When can it become dangerous?
Flight turbulence like that encountered by a Singapore Airlines flight on Tuesday is extremely common, but there's one aspect of severe turbulence an aviation expert says can lead to serious injury.
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked and sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Toronto Blue Jays fan struck by 110 m.p.h foul ball offered tickets, signed baseball by team
The Toronto Blue Jays have offered tickets and a signed baseball to a fan who says she was struck in the face by a 110 m.p.h (177 km/h) foul ball at Friday’s game.
Orphan orca's extended family spotted off northeast side of Vancouver Island
Members of a killer whale pod related to an orphan orca calf that escaped a remote British Columbia tidal lagoon last month have been spotted off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.
OPP continues to investigate boat collision north of Kingston, Ont. that left 3 people dead
Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate a long weekend fatal boat collision on Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont.
Matthew Perry's death is being investigated over ketamine level found in actor's blood, reports say
An investigation has been opened into the death of Matthew Perry and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.
'Miscommunication' Liberals say of Speaker Fergus event invite Conservatives call partisan
House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus is facing fresh Conservative-led calls to resign, this time over "very partisan" and 'inflammatory' language used – the Liberals say mistakenly – to promote an upcoming event.
'Mr. Trump doesn't worry us', says Canadian ambassador
As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continues the 'Team Canada' charm offensive to U.S. lawmakers and business leaders, Canada's ambassador to the United States downplayed the effect of another Trump presidency on Canada.