An individual is facing 19 firearms-related Criminal Code (CC) charges following an investigation into the importation of firearms and prohibited devices.
In March 2025, members assigned to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) in Niagara and the U.S. Department of Homeland S ecurity, Homeland Security Investigations initiated an intelligence-led investigation into the alleged importation of firearms and prohibited devices from the U.S. into Canada.
On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, an individual was arrested in Burlington by members assigned to BEST from the OPP, Toronto Police Service, Peel Regional Police, Niagara Regional Police Service, and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) with assistance from the OPP Tactics and Rescue Unit, OPP Highway Enforcement Team and the OPP Provincial Weapons Enforcement Unit.
As a result, Daniel MENEZES, age 24 of Hamilton, has been charged with the following 19 offences contrary to the CC:
Import a firearm knowing it’s unauthorized – two counts
Unauthorized importation of a firearm – two counts
Unauthorized possession of a prohibit ed device – two counts
Possession of a firearm knowing it was unauthorized – two counts
Possession of a prohibited device knowing it was unauthorized – two counts
Possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition – two counts
Import a prohibited device knowing it’s unauthorized
Import components for the use in making automatic firearms knowing it’s unauthorized
Unauthorized importation of a prohibited device
Unauthorized importation of components for use in the making of automatic firearms
Unauthorized possession of a prohibited firear m
Unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm
Possession of a prohibited weapon
The accused was remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Milton on May 14, 2025.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
