Canadian man sentenced in US for smuggling guns into Canada

A Canadian man has been sentenced to nearly seven years in a U.S. prison for illegally purchasing handguns to smuggle into Canada, following a firearms investigation that began in Edmonton.

Harsimran Dhaliwal, 31, was sentenced on January 16, 2025, to 82 months in prison and fined $30,000 for his role in trafficking firearms across the border.

His arrest stemmed from a November 2022 Edmonton Police Service (EPS) search warrant, which uncovered eight handguns and more than $930,000 in drugs and cash at two residences.

That investigation led to charges against Adam Salah Johma, then 53, and an unnamed 34-year-old man, who faced a combined 102 charges related to firearms and drug trafficking. The younger suspect was not identified to protect the identity of a child found living in one of the targeted residences.

EPS’ Firearms Examination Unit restored the serial number on one of the seized weapons, allowing the RCMP’s Canadian National Firearms Tracing Centre to track it to a buyer in Texas.

Agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) then identified Dhaliwal as a key suspect, linking him to handgun purchases intended for illegal export to Canada.

Investigators determined that Dhaliwal traveled repeatedly between Edmonton and Texas, working with multiple straw buyers to acquire and smuggle firearms.

US authorities arrested him in Texas on September 22, 2023.

“This arrest and ultimate sentencing of a prolific straw buyer is an outstanding example of the complexity and teamwork that goes into these investigations,” said S/Sgt Eric Stewart of the EPS Firearms Investigation Section.

“Our firearms teams have established the resources and the partnerships to work across international borders, so we are able to identify and hold accountable those who are bringing illegal weapons from the U.S. into Canada.”