CORNER BROOK — A Corner Brook man has been charged in connection with the seizure of 10 illegal stun guns, two stun gun cartridges and a set of brass knuckles.
In a press release issued Wednesday, the Canada Border Services Agency said Robert Greening was charged following a criminal investigation after officers from that agency intercepted a package at the Vancouver International Mail Centre containing a stun gun destined for a Newfoundland and Labrador address
As a result of this interception, agency investigators in Newfoundland and Labrador, assisted by postal inspectors from Canada Post's Security and Investigation Service, seized six additional international mail shipments that were found to contain prohibited weapons and devices destined for the same address.
Greening was charged Sept. 7 after a joint investigation that involved the Corner Brook detachment of the RCMP and the execution of search warrants.
The charges include 13 counts under the Customs Act and 14 counts under the Criminal Code.
According to the press release, Greening made his first court appearance in Corner Brook Tuesday. As of press time, The Western Star was unable to confirm when his next court date was.
Stun guns are classified as prohibited weapons in Canada. With the exception of officials acting in the course of their duties, the Customs Tariff prohibits the importation of these weapons into Canada. Brass knuckles are also classified as prohibited weapons, and their importation is also illegal under the Customs Tariff.
“Stun guns and brass knuckles are dangerous prohibited weapons and, as a result of the hard work by (Canada Border Services Agency) officers and investigators, we've prevented them from making it onto Newfoundland and Labrador streets,” said Andrew LeFrank, the agency’s regional director general for the Atlantic region. “The (Canada Border Services Agency) continues to work alongside partners, like the RCMP and Canada Post, to ensure that we stop illegal smuggling activities in Atlantic Canada.”
