Firearms were seized in Essex County after a Canada Border Services Agency investigation into alleged cross-border smuggling and the planned manufacture of prohibited weapons, according to a CBSA news release dated September 24, 2026.
The agency said 60-year-old Frank Charette of Cottam, Ontario, was arrested and charged after investigators from the Ontario Firearms Smuggling Enforcement Team conducted an investigation involving firearm parts brought into Canada from the United States.
The allegations have not been tested in court, and the accused is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
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CBSA investigation leads to 53 firearms seized
The CBSA said its Ontario Firearms Smuggling Enforcement Team, known as OFSET, executed multiple search warrants in Essex County on July 15, 2026.
The operation was carried out with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s National Weapons Enforcement Support Team and the Ontario Provincial Police’s Emergency Response Team.
According to the agency, the search warrants resulted in the seizure of 53 firearms.
The seized items included six unlawfully possessed handguns, two unregistered sub-machine guns, 116 cartridge magazines and one auto-sear.
The CBSA said 39 of the magazines were over capacity.
An auto-sear is a device intended to convert a semi-automatic firearm into an automatic firearm.
Investigation followed earlier Windsor case
The CBSA said OFSET began investigating Charette after a separate firearm investigation led to charges against another person from nearby Windsor in September 2025.
The agency said the subsequent investigation indicated that Charette conspired to smuggle firearm parts into Canada from the United States with the goal of manufacturing prohibited weapons.
The CBSA also said border services officers intercepted Charette at the Ambassador Bridge in May 2026 while he was carrying unregulated firearm parts from the United States.
Charges filed under Canadian laws
The CBSA said Charette faces multiple charges under the Customs Act, the Export and Import Permits Act and the Criminal Code.
The allegations include smuggling controlled goods and importing goods without a permit.
He also faces charges related to manufacturing a prohibited firearm and conspiring to manufacture a firearm.
Additional allegations concern the knowing possession of prohibited firearms and a prohibited device.
The CBSA also listed three charges alleging storage of non-restricted, restricted and prohibited firearms contrary to regulations.
The agency’s release lists 10 counts in total, including two separate counts involving the alleged knowing possession of a prohibited firearm.
The charges are allegations only. A charge does not establish that the accused committed an offence.
What OFSET does in Ontario
The Ontario Firearms Smuggling Enforcement Team is a CBSA team dedicated to investigating firearms smuggling throughout Ontario.
The agency describes OFSET as a group made up of criminal investigators, intelligence analysts and intelligence officers.
Its work can include cases involving firearms, firearm parts and related devices brought into Canada through illicit means.
The CBSA says it identifies and intercepts contraband through targeting and inspection activities. These activities can result in seizures, investigations and charges under the Customs Act and the Criminal Code.
CBSA investigators may obtain search warrants and other judicial authorizations to search for and seize evidence of alleged offences under the Customs Act and other border-related legislation.
Scheduled Windsor court appearance
Charette is scheduled to appear at the Windsor courthouse on November 16, 2026.
The CBSA release reports charges and a scheduled court appearance; it does not report a conviction or sentence.
The court process will determine how the allegations proceed and whether any of the charges result in a finding of guilt.
Border enforcement and firearms smuggling
The CBSA said its firearms enforcement work is intended to disrupt the movement of illegal firearms and related components across the Canada-U.S. border.
In this case, the agency’s investigation involved the alleged cross-border movement of firearm parts, an interception at the Ambassador Bridge and later searches in Essex County.
The seizure also involved firearms and accessories that the CBSA described as prohibited, restricted, unregistered or unlawfully possessed.
Canadian firearms rules can apply differently depending on the classification of a firearm, device, magazine or part.
Travellers and importers should verify current requirements before attempting to bring firearms or firearm parts into Canada.
Improperly declared or unauthorized firearms and firearm parts may be seized, and conduct involving those goods may result in criminal or regulatory consequences.
How to report suspected cross-border activity
The CBSA said people with information about suspected cross-border activity, including firearms smuggling, can contact the CBSA Border Watch Line.
The toll-free number listed by the agency is 1-888-502-9060.
Information can also be submitted through the CBSA’s online reporting service.
What happens next
The next publicly identified step in this case is the scheduled Windsor court appearance on November 16, 2026.
Further information may become available through court proceedings or additional announcements from law enforcement authorities.
Until the case is resolved, reports about the accused should distinguish between the charges laid by the CBSA and facts established in court.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the CBSA seize in Essex County?
The CBSA said search warrants executed on July 15, 2026, resulted in the seizure of 53 firearms, 116 cartridge magazines and one auto-sear. The agency said six handguns and two sub-machine guns were among the seized items.
What charges were announced?
The accused faces charges under the Customs Act, the Export and Import Permits Act and the Criminal Code. The allegations include smuggling controlled goods, importing goods without a permit, manufacturing or conspiring to manufacture a prohibited firearm, possession offences and firearm storage offences.
When is the accused scheduled to appear in court?
The CBSA said the accused is scheduled to appear at the Windsor courthouse on November 16, 2026.
Has the accused been convicted?
No. The CBSA announcement concerns an arrest and charges. The allegations have not been proven in court, and the accused is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Fact-Checked: The report was checked against the CBSA news release dated September 24, 2026, official CBSA material on OFSET and current Department of Justice Canada Criminal Code pages.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information and does not provide legal advice or determine the outcome of the court case.
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