Guns found in the mail in Mississauga; Toronto man faces charges

A Toronto man faces gun smuggling charges after several firearms were intercepted by Canadian border services officers at a large mail facility near Toronto Pearson Airport in Mississauga.

Three prohibited semi-automatic handguns, five cartridge magazines and 12 rounds of ammunition were inside a parcel that was pulled aside by officers in late August at the International Mail Processing Centre on Dixie Road.

Canada Border Services Agency officials said the package of guns and ammunition was en route to an address in Toronto when it was intercepted.

A search warrant was subsequently executed at a Toronto home.

Nicholas Douglas, 34, of Toronto, is charged with:

• three counts of smuggling prohibited device
• three counts of knowingly importing prohibited goods
• conspiring with a person or persons unknown to commit an indictable offence of importing a prohibited or restricted firearm
• knowingly transferring a prohibited firearm

The investigation was spearheaded by the CBSA’s Ontario Firearms Smuggling Enforcement Team, a group of criminal investigators, intelligence analysts and intelligence officers that focuses on firearms smuggling throughout the province.

The International Mail Processing Centre in Mississauga.

(Cover photo: Canada Border Services Agency)