U.S. Says Dozens Of Illegal Guns Sent Into Canada

United States authorities say they have uncovered and dismantled a major firearms trafficking network that allegedly smuggled dozens of illegal guns from New Hampshire into Canada through border regions near tribal lands in New York. Federal investigators announced that 13 people have now been charged or have pleaded guilty in connection with the international gun trafficking operation.

According to U.S. prosecutors, the trafficking network operated between 2021 and at least late 2024. Investigators said the group used “straw purchasers,” people who legally bought firearms on behalf of individuals who were not legally allowed to own guns. Authorities believe more than 51 firearms were moved across the border through the Akwesasne Mohawk territory, which stretches across parts of New York, Ontario, and Quebec.

Officials said several of the smuggled weapons were later recovered at violent crime scenes in Canada, including investigations connected to kidnapping and attempted murder cases in Montreal. Law enforcement agencies from both countries worked together during the investigation, including U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Canadian police agencies.

U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan described the operation as a serious international trafficking network that treated the northern border “as a pipeline for illegal gun trafficking.” Authorities said many of the firearms were purchased from licensed gun dealers in New Hampshire and nearby areas before being transported north into Canada using remote border crossings and reservation routes.

Court documents allege that members connected to the trafficking operation recruited people in New Hampshire and Vermont to buy firearms for them. Investigators said one central suspect, Justin Jackson, was prohibited from legally purchasing guns, so others allegedly bought the weapons on his behalf. Several defendants have already pleaded guilty to firearms trafficking and illegal possession charges.

Authorities also revealed that four of the accused individuals were arrested earlier this week, while others remain wanted by law enforcement. Prosecutors say the operation involved coordinated transportation routes through isolated border regions where smugglers hoped to avoid detection.

Canadian law enforcement officials said the case highlights growing concerns about illegal firearms entering Canada from the United States. According to investigators, a large percentage of handguns recovered in crimes across major Canadian cities are believed to originate from illegal smuggling operations connected to the U.S. border.

The investigation has renewed debate around cross-border gun trafficking and public safety in Canada. Police agencies continue warning that organized crime groups often rely on illegally imported American firearms because Canadian gun laws are stricter than those in many U.S. states. Experts say trafficked weapons have become a major challenge for law enforcement, especially in Ontario and Quebec.

Officials from both countries said the investigation remains active and additional arrests or charges could still happen as authorities continue tracing firearms connected to the smuggling network. U.S. and Canadian agencies also said they plan to increase border cooperation to stop future illegal gun trafficking operations from reaching Canadian communities.