Lansdowne, Ontario
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has laid multiple charges against two individuals after seizing several firearms, ammunition, magazines and suspected narcotics at the Lansdowne (Thousand Islands Bridge) port of entry.
On May 23, 2026, two individuals approached the Lansdowne port of entry from the United States seeking entry into Canada in a motorhome towing a pickup truck. The travellers told the border services officer they made a wrong turn towards the Canadian border and had no firearms or narcotics to declare. They were referred for a secondary examination and the driver admitted that he did have a firearm in the motorhome. Both travellers were arrested for smuggling.
CBSA officers searched the motorhome and pickup truck and seized:
- eight firearms, including four prohibited firearms
- 13 magazines, including seven prohibited over-capacity magazines
- 1,500 rounds of ammunition
- personal amounts of several types of suspected narcotics, including cocaine, psilocybin and cannabis
As a result, Daniel Sargent (59) of Virginia and Danette Garrelts (56) of California have each been charged with:
- seven counts of failing to report goods, contrary to section 12(1) of the Customs Act
- making false statements, contrary to section 153(e) of the Customs Act
- twelve counts of smuggling, contrary to section 159(1) of the Customs Act
- two counts of possession of a controlled substance, contrary to section 4(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
- two counts of importing of a controlled substance, contrary to section 6(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
- importing cannabis, contrary to section 11(1) of the Cannabis Act
- nine counts of careless transportation of a firearm, contrary to section 86(1) of the Criminal Code
- seven counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm, contrary to section 91(1) of the Criminal Code
- two counts of unauthorized possession of a prohibited device, contrary to section 91(2) of the Criminal Code
- three counts of unauthorized possession of a loaded firearm, contrary to section 95(1) of the Criminal Code
- eight counts of unauthorized importation of a firearm, contrary to section 104(1)(a) of the Criminal Code
- unauthorized importation of a prohibited device, contrary to section 104(1)(a) of the Criminal Code
The accused were remanded into custody. Both are next scheduled to appear in court on July 31, 2026. The charges have not yet been tested or proven in court.
