Ontario Provincial Police arrested Balraj Singh, 31, and Kawalbir Singh, 21, both of Brampton, after seizing 72 handguns that investigators say originated in the United States.
Officers stopped a northbound tractor-trailer at a Ministry of Transportation inspection station near Temiskaming Shores on Sept. 11 as part of an eight-month probe that began in February into alleged cocaine trafficking.
Police say the search also turned up 66 prohibited devices.
The Border Drug Interdiction Task Force, led by the OPP, spearheaded the investigation with support from specialized units including the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau and the Provincial Guns and Gangs Enforcement Team.
Preliminary tracing by Ontario’s Firearms Analysis and Tracing Enforcement program indicated all of the seized handguns came from the U.S., underscoring the cross-border nature of the case.
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Balraj Singh is charged with 72 counts of weapons trafficking and one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine. Kawalbir Singh faces 72 counts of weapons trafficking.
Both were remanded into custody. Kawalbir Singh is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto on Oct. 22, while a court date for Balraj Singh was not immediately provided. The charges have not been proven in court.
OPP Chief Superintendent Mike Stoddart said in a release: “This seizure of 72 illegal handguns and dozens of prohibited devices is a powerful example of what can be achieved through coordinated, intelligence-led investigations.”
He added that the findings highlight “the importance of partnerships with law enforcement agencies across borders.”
Investigators linked the truck to the ongoing drug probe before stopping it at the inspection station.
A court-authorized search recovered the firearms and prohibited devices.
Officials said the case illustrates how criminal networks use commercial transport to move contraband across long distances, and noted that cross-border partners, including U.S. agencies, regularly assist with gun tracing and related leads.
The province launched “Operation Deterrence” in January to expand policing resources along key corridors and deter cross-border crime.
While Thursday’s arrests stem from a separate OPP investigation, both efforts reflect a broader push to curb the movement of illegal guns and drugs through transportation routes that connect southern Ontario with northern communities.
Authorities asked anyone with information about illegal firearms trafficking to contact the OPP or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers.
Police did not disclose where the guns were destined or whether additional arrests are anticipated.
