Weapons seized on American side of Peace Bridge

A number of firearms passed through Fort Erie before they were seized by border officials in Buffalo.

On Saturday, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers at the Peace Bridge encountered a passenger vehicle operated by a 36-year-old male from West Virginia.

When officers requested travel documents, the passenger did not possess the required identification and subsequently both the driver and passenger were referred to a secondary inspection, according to a news release from U.S. border officials.

During the secondary examination, officers discovered an Eagle Arms AR-15 rifle in the trunk, 143 rounds of .223 ammunition, six 30-round .223 ammunition magazines and a Taurus G2S 9mm handgun.

Also, American border officers determined that the driver unlawfully possessed the firearms due to prior arrest convictions.

“I am proud of our vigilant and enforcement-minded officers who use their training and experience every day to prioritize our mission and the safety of our country,” said Buffalo Port Director Gaetano Cordone.

“We continue to collaborate with our State and Local law enforcement partners to remove unlawfully possessed firearms from our communities.”

The driver was taken into custody and subsequently processed by CBP officers. After processing, the driver and firearms were turned over to Buffalo Police to face felony charges of criminal possession of a loaded firearm and criminal possession of a weapon.

Stay Informed

Events, offers, contests, and breaking news, all delivered straight to your inbox.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Subscribe