A Nanaimo man is facing a range of gun and drug trafficking charges after the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) started a gun smuggling investigation nearly two years ago.
The investigation began in 2022 after three firearm suppressors were seized by border services officers at Vancouver International Airport Air Cargo Operations, between August and October.
Roughly seven months later, on May 30, 2023, CBSA officers, alongside the Vancouver Island District RCMP Emergency Response Team, executed search warrants at a home and two vehicles in Nanaimo.
During the searches, police found a loaded, prohibited shotgun — two loaded, prohibited 9mm ghost gun pistols — a restricted 9mm rifle that had “readily accessible ammunition and suppressor” nearby, two non-restricted rifles and nine over-capacity magazines.
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The two ghost guns and one of the seized rifles are shown. (Canada Border Services Agency)
Police also found a range of drugs, including 12 ounces of cocaine, four ounces of methamphetamine, and small amounts of MDMA and psilocybin — and seized 22 electronic devices.
About a year after the raid in Nanaimo, police say Nanaimo resident Cody Edward Ranger was charged with a long list of offences — including three counts of unauthorized possession of a loaded firearm, one count of unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition, three counts of possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking, and two counts of possession of a prohibited device.
On Thursday, police said Ranger remained in custody as the charges against him are tested in court.
“The Canada Border Services Agency is committed to keeping prohibited firearms and firearm parts out of our country and protecting our communities,” said Nina Patel, regional director general of the Canada Border Services Agency Pacific Region.
“We continue to investigate those who attempt to bring these items into Canada and work alongside our policing partners to hold them accountable.”
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Adam Chan
