Seizure of 25 guns leads to bust of cross-border firearm smuggling ring

Four people from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) are now facing multiple charges after police busted a cross-border firearms smuggling ring.

In March 2018, “Project Belair” was launched, which is a joint investigation between Toronto police, Canada Border Services Agency and the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

At a press conference at Toronto Police headquarters, it was unveiled the month-long investigation resulted in the seizure of 30 handguns, a small amount of ammunition and various narcotics.

According to police, on October 31, CBSA stopped 50-year-old Rima Mansour of Toronto as she was crossing into Canada at Fort Erie, ON.

After a search of her vehicle, officers discovered 25 handguns sealed in plastic bags in the gas tank. They also discovered a number of over-capacity magazines, which are banned in Canada.

The woman was arrested and transferred to the custody of Toronto police.

Toronto Police Service

In the days that followed, 13 warrants were executed in Toronto, Brampton and Ajax, which led to the arrests of three men and the seizure of an additional five handguns, 136 rounds of ammunition, a large quantity of drugs and $45,000 in cash.

In total, the narcotics seized by police include:

13 kilograms of cannabis
280 grams of cocaine

The suspects arrested include 52-year-old Alan Cunningham of Brampton, 52-year-old Colin Levy of Brampton, and 41-year-old William Data of Ajax.

All three men face multiple charges in relation to firearms and drug trafficking, as well as possession of proceeds of a crime.

Toronto Police

In total, the narcotics seized by police include:

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