US-Canada partnership dismantles international gun smuggling ring

An international gun trafficking ring has been dismantled following an investigation triggered by a single defaced handgun and two shell casings. The investigation began when Montreal police discovered a Glock 26 with a tampered serial number, which had been legally purchased in New Hampshire.

Using advanced tracing techniques to restore the serial number, U.S. and Canadian authorities identified a conspiracy involving 13 defendants. The group allegedly smuggled firearms from New Hampshire into Canada by transporting them via jet skis to an island on the St. Lawrence River. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, at least five defendants have already pleaded guilty to federal firearms charges.

The bust highlights an increasing collaboration between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Canadian law enforcement. This partnership, established in 2023, aims to combat a trend where approximately half of the crime guns recovered in Canada are smuggled from the United States.