Border agents say they seized three handguns from N.S. residents

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The Canada Border Services Agency says two Nova Scotia residents were arrested after officers seized three handguns and a Taser during a vehicle check in St. Stephen.

Scott Livingstone, 63, and Joyce Ellen Livingstone, 61, of Conquerall Bank, Lunenberg County, Nova Scotia, were charged with four Customs Act offences and 11 Criminal Code charges earlier this month, the CBSA said in a press release Thursday.

Officers say they checked a vehicle returning from the U.S. after “an extended stay” when it crossed the St. Stephen Ferry Point border crossing April 5. Officers say they, and detector dog services, found prohibited firearms “deeply concealed” within the vehicle, including three 9 millimetre handguns, six magazines, four of which were over-capacity, one conducted energy weapon, a pepper spray, loose cannabis and THC vape cartridges.

The Livingstones were arrested that day on smuggling charges, and, on April 7, RCMP officers and CBSA investigators searched their residence and found a 12-gauge shotgun, pellet gun and ammunition, according to the release.

According to court documents, they appeared in court in Saint John April 7 and were charged with three counts of smuggling, one count of making false statements and one count of failing to report imported goods under the Customs Act.

They were also charged with 11 criminal offences, including possession of a prohibited weapon and carrying a concealed weapon related to two “privately-manufactured” P80 handguns and a Glock19 Gen 4 handgun, as well as possession of an unloaded handgun with readily accessible ammo, riding in a vehicle with firearms and unlawfully importing firearms, according to the release. They were also charged with carrying a concealed weapon relating to the Taser and the pepper-spray.

The pair were released on conditions to surrender their passports, remain in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island and return for court July 5, according to court documents.

“CBSA front line officers in New Brunswick are on alert to detect and intercept prohibited guns and weapons at the land border,” Gina Kennedy-McLaughlin, CBSA director of traveller land border operations, said in the release.

When asked where the Livingstones went and how long they were there, the CBSA declined comment, according to spokesperson Maria Ladouceur, citing that the matter is before the courts.