A 24-year-old Oshawa man is facing numerous charges after a Canada Border Services Agency investigation led to the seizure of gun parts and drug presses in Oshawa last month.
The CBSA announced the charges against Cameron Williams Wednesday following an investigation by its Ontario Firearms Smuggling Enforcement Team (OFSET) that began in May after border services officers stopped multiple attempts at smuggling prohibited firearm parts into Canada.
CBSA says OFSET executed search warrants on Sept. 4 at two homes in Oshawa with the assistance of the Durham Regional Police’s Tactical Support Unit.
Authorities say the equipment seized was from a clandestine narcotics lab that included pill and drug brick presses, baggies, weight scales, vacuum sealers, and baking soda.
Also seized were several drugs including MDMA (ecstasy), cocaine, oxycodone, methamphetamine, traces of fentanyl, and various illicit drug additives.
Additionally, the CBSA said investigators found several high capacity magazines, magazine catch and release devices, 10-round magazines, a suppressor, a firearm conversion kit, a weapon-mounted flashlight, 46 rounds of ammunition, multiple cell phones, SIM cards, a computer, and over $23,800 in cash.
“This investigation resulted in the dismantling of an active narcotics lab and the seizure of illicit narcotics, firearms parts, ammunition, weapons, and currency,” OFSET Assistant Director Abeid Morgan said in a statement. “This significant threat to our communities has now been removed.”
Williams has been charged with four counts each of smuggling a prohibited device and unauthorized importation of a prohibited device, three counts of smuggling a designated device, two counts each of possession of a prohibited device knowing it is unauthorized and possession of a prohibited device contrary to a prohibition order, and one count each of possession of property obtained by crime, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of a designated device.