A search warrant was executed on a home in Oliver in relation to an ongoing firearms smuggling investigation.
A Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) spokesperson confirmed the investigation is in relation to the arrest of Alex Louie, who attempted to cross the border on Feb. 1.
Related: Man charged with smuggling handguns across the border
Louie told border agents he had been in the U.S. for seven hours and denied having any firearms or weapons in the vehicle. Officers initially found an ammunition magazine, two trigger locks andtwo boxes of ammunition inside the vehicle.
During his bail hearing at Penticton provincial court, Crown alleged two Hi-Point CF-380handguns were found tied to the undercarriage of Louie’s vehicle with wire. A spool of steel wire,along with a receipt stating it was purchased hours prior from a store in Wenatchee, Wash.
Louie was charged with two counts of smuggling, two counts of possession of a unlawfully imported goods and one count of making false statements under the Customs Act. He is also charged with two counts each of unauthorized possession of firearms and importing firearms knowing it is unauthorized under the Criminal Code.
“Protecting the safety and security of the public by interdicting high-risk commodities, including firearms, is an enforcement priority for the Canada Border Services Agency,” said Stefanie Wudel, media spokesperson for the CBSA. “Our officers are committed to enforcing Canadian law and ensuring our borders are not used for illegal activity.”
Wudel said the investigation remains ongoing and no arrests were made during the search warrant.
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Canada Border Services Agency confirmed that they were assisted by RCMP for an operation in Oliver on Wednesday morning.
The CBSA Criminal Investigations Section attended a residence in Oliver with the RCMP Emergency Response Team and Oliver RCMP.
According to the CBSA spokesperson, the investigation is ongoing and they cannot provide additional information at this time.