CBSA firearm investigation leads to 5 year prison sentence
December 5, 2024 Vancouver, British Columbia Canada Border Services Agency
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is committed to protecting Canadians by keeping prohibited firearms and weapons out of our communities.
On April 18, 2024, Russell Vernon Major, a resident of Burnaby, B.C., was found guilty in Surrey Provincial Court of the following charges:
- Customs Act s.159 – smuggling
- Customs Act s.153(a) – false statements
- Criminal Code s.95(1) – possession of prohibited firearm with ammunition
- Criminal Code s.92(1) – possession of prohibited devices
- Criminal Code s.104(1) – importation of a prohibited firearm
- Criminal Code s.104(1) – importation of a prohibited device
On November 21, 2024, he was sentenced to five years imprisonment. He was also ordered to provide a DNA sample and received a firearms prohibition.
On August 15, 2022, Major was returning to Canada from the United States at the Douglas port of entry in Surrey, B.C. Upon secondary examination of his vehicle, Border Services Officers discovered an undeclared Glock-style Polymer80 handgun and two prohibited magazines. CBSA investigators subsequently charged Major for several offences under the Customs Act and Criminal Code.