Two Nova Scotians are facing charges of smuggling and possession after being stopped at a New Brunswick border.

The individuals were trying to cross into Canada at the St. Stephen Ferry Point port of entry on April 5th after an extended stay in the United States. They were told to pull over for a secondary examination.

The Canada Border Services Agency and Detector Dog Services discovered numerous prohibited firearms and other weapons concealed in their vehicle.

This includes:

• three 9-millimetre handguns
• four over-capacity magazines
• two 10-capacity magazine
• one conducted energy weapon
• one pepper spray
• 2.9 grams of loose cannabis
• three THC vape cartridges

A 63-year-old man and a 61-year-old woman from Lunenburg County Nova Scotia were arrested.

On April 7, CBSA criminal investigators, with assistance from the Nova Scotia RCMP, executed a search warrant at their residence in Conquerall Bank, Nova Scotia, and seized a 12-gauge shotgun, a pellet gun, and various ammunition and electronic devices.

Customs Act charges include:

• three counts – smuggling
• one count – making false statements
• one count – failing to report imported goods in their possession

Criminal Code charges include:

• two counts – possession of prohibited firearms
• four counts – carrying a concealed weapon
• two counts – occupants of a motor vehicle knowing at the time there were firearms
• two counts – unauthorized possession of an unloaded handgun with readily accessible ammo that is capable of being discharged
• one count – without lawful authority import into Canada firearms

The accused were released on conditions and will appear in Saint John Provincial Court on July 5th.