Imagine finding silencers at an airport, then seeing them linked to a much larger cache of weapons. That’s what happened twice in 2025: once in St-Anicet, Quebec, and once in Nanaimo, British Columbia. 

Both cases show how strictly Canadian law treats smuggling or possessing silencers. 

Today, we’ll talk more about these cases and what you can learn from them if you are ever accused of smuggling. 

Case Examples That Show the Stakes of Smuggling Silencers in Canada

In August 2025, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) agents carried out a seizure in St-Anicet (Quebec). They found seven silencers among hundreds of firearms, plus ammunition and prohibited weapons. That search illustrates how silencers often appear in broader weapons or trafficking operations rather than isolated incidents.

Earlier, in B.C., a man named received a five-year prison sentence and a lifetime firearms ban. Officers first intercepted three firearm suppressors at Vancouver International Airport in 2022. That led to searches of his residence and vehicles in Nanaimo in 2023. 

The police and CBSA found ghost guns, a prohibited shotgun, rifles with suppressors, and serious drug quantities (over 300 grams of cocaine, over 100 grams of methamphetamine). The accused pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and unauthorized possession of loaded prohibited firearms. 

What Canadian Law Says About Silencers

Silencers, also called suppressors, are treated under Canadian law as prohibited devices. Under the Criminal Code and Firearms Act, possessing, importing, manufacturing, or selling them without specific legal authorization is illegal.

Smuggling silencers triggers multiple offences: importation offences, prohibited device possession, possibly weapons trafficking, depending on what else is involved.

Why These Cases Matter

Both the St-Anicet and Nanaimo cases show several important points:

• Even a small number of silencers can lead to major investigations once they are discovered.
• Silencers often turn up in connection with other illegal firearms, unregistered “ghost guns,” and drug offences.
• Courts impose strong punishments when silencers are part of a pattern of criminal activity.

Penalties and Long-Term Consequences

If convicted of smuggling or unauthorized possession of silencers, you can face years in prison. In the Nanaimo case, the defendant got five years behind bars plus a lifetime prohibition on ownership of firearms. 

Beyond incarceration, a conviction carries other long-term effects: a criminal record, limited travel options, barriers to employment, and civil rights restrictions.

How Defences Often Try to Challenge These Cases

In cases like these, there are a few angles a defence lawyer might use:

• Whether the accused knew what they were importing or in possession of.
• Whether importation or seizure was legal (were laws followed, were Charter rights respected).
• Whether evidence was handled properly, including chain of custody.
• Whether the devices were labelled, shipped, or transported in misleading or deceptive ways.

These details can make or break a case.

What These Cases Teach Anyone Facing Such Charges

If silencers are involved, the risks are high. Legal representation is not an option; it’s something you need. The sooner you get advice, the more options you may have.

Contact Steele Law

If you are facing charges involving silencers, smuggling, or possession of prohibited devices, you should seek defence right away. Jerry Steele at Steele Law understands how these cases work, what prosecutors will argue, and which legal strategies can protect your rights.

Contact Jerry Steele today to review your situation and plan your defence.