A joint investigation by police has led to the arrest and seizure of weapons in Fort Erie.

 

Police say the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) working jointly with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) – Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit (PWEU) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) have conducted an investigation into the illegal importation of prohibited weapons since February when a prohibited firearm suppressor device was intercepted and seized at the CBSA International Mail Processing Centre in Toronto.

On February 19th, 2020, investigators from the NRPS, OPP – PWEU, CBSA (Southern Ontario Region Investigations) with the assistance of the Niagara Falls Street Crime Unit, and the Emergency Task Unit executed a search warrant at a Fort Erie residence in the area of Belleair Boulevard and Dominion Road.

Preston M. Woods (36 years old) of Fort Erie was arrested and charged with the alleged Criminal Code (C.C.) of Canada offences of:

Importation of a prohibited device
Possession of a prohibited device
Possession of a prohibited weapon
Possession of a schedule I substance, to wit; cocaine, for the purpose of trafficking
Possession of a schedule I substance, to wit; Fentanyl, for the purpose of trafficking
Possession of a schedule I substance, to wit; Opioid “Methadone”
Possession of proceeds obtained by crime under $5000.00
Possession of a prohibited device, contrary to prohibition order
Possession of a prohibited weapon, contrary to prohibition order
Possession of ammunition, contrary to prohibition order

Woods is also charged with the alleged Customs Act (C.A.) offences of:

Attempt to smuggle
Possession of illegally imported goods
Evasion of compliance

Woods remained in custody until his next anticipated court appearance via video link to the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines on Feb. 24, 2020.

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