Osoyoos, B.C.- An Osoyoos man has been arrested and is facing charges following an undercover gun smuggling investigation by the Combined Special Forces Enforcement Unit in B.C.

 

CFSEU was tipped off in May about a suspect who had dual Canadian /US citizenship, who may be smuggling firearms into Canada from Washington State.

 

An undercover operation, dubbed “Project E-Passkey”  was launched.

 

According to investigators, their suspect was legally buying firearms in Washonton State at gun shows.   It is alleged the firearms were smuggled across the border in a truch and a car through the Oroville Washington/ Osoyoos BC border crossing.

The investigators say possibly dozens of guns, believed to be mostly Glock handguns, were being sold to various gang-related groups both in the Okanagan and Lower Mainland.

 

The suspect has no criminal record and was not previously known to police. He was arrested in Langley on August 29^th after allegedly selling a semi-automatic assault-style Norinco MAK-90 rifle and several steroid kits to an undercover police officer.

Charged with two counts of unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm and one count each of careless use of a firearm contravening storage regulations and firearms trafficking, is 30 year old Tyler Ryan Cuff of Osoyoos.

 

He is to appear in court on September 13 in Surrey Provincial Court.

 

Investigators are now trying to determine if any of the alleged smuggled and sold firearms are connected to any other police investigations, how many firearms may have been brought into Canada, how many guns may have been sold, and to whom.

 

 

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