CORNER BROOK — An Irishtown man pleaded guilty to several charges related to importing prohibited weapons in provincial court on Wednesday.
Robert Greening, 43, was charged on Sept. 7 after a joint investigation involving the Canada Border Services Agency and the Corner Brook detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The investigation was launched after border services officers 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.
Ten illegal stun guns, two stun gun cartridges and a set of brass knuckles were seized during the investigation.
Greening was charged with 13 offences under the Customs Act and 14 under the Criminal Code. The offences are alleged to have occurred between June and September of this year.
Multiple charges listed possessing or importing one item, however, both the provincial and federal Crowns amended them to list multiple items and stated it was their intention to withdraw the remaining charges once convictions are entered on the guilty pleas.
Greening’s lawyer, Keir O’Flaherty, entered guilty pleas to a total of eight charges. Criminal Code offences include, importing a prohibited weapon, brass knuckles; possession of a prohibited weapon, stun guns; and two counts of importing a prohibited weapon, stun guns. Customs Act charges include, two counts of unlawfully possessing, purchasing or selling prohibited goods, stun guns; unlawfully possessing, purchasing or selling prohibited goods, Taser transmission cartridges; and unlawfully possessing, purchasing or selling prohibited goods, brass knuckles.
Greening was present in court on Wednesday and will return on Feb. 7 for sentencing.
