Charges approved against 24-year-old Vancouver man in alleged 'sophisticated' gun import scheme

A 24-year-old Vancouver man is facing firearms charges after a joint investigation by British Columbia’s anti-gang unit and the Canada Border Services Agency that followed a June 2023 border seizure and uncovered evidence consistent with what police described as an alleged “sophisticated” gun importation scheme.

The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit’s illegal firearms team and the CBSA opened the probe after packages were seized at the U.S.-Canada border in June 2023. Investigators searched a Richmond business soon after, and in November 2023 executed a search at a home in Vancouver.

“The search warrants revealed evidence consistent with an alleged sophisticated firearms importation scheme,” Cpl. Sarbjit K. Sangha, a spokeswoman for the special enforcement unit, said. On Feb. 27, the B.C.

Prosecution Service approved several charges against Andy Emre Gencoglu of Vancouver: smuggling a restricted firearm, smuggling a prohibited firearm, smuggling two prohibited devices, two counts of importing a restricted firearm knowing it is unauthorized, and one count of importing two prohibited devices knowing it’s unauthorized.

Gencoglu was arrested and released until a court date and is barred from possessing any weapons. “Smuggling firearms is a dangerous criminal activity that jeopardizes public safety and fuels violence,” Sangha said, adding the unit remains committed to disrupting illegal networks.

Harald Wuigk, assistant director of criminal investigations at the CBSA, said combating gun smuggling and investigating those who break the law is part of the agency’s commitment to Canadians. Authorities said their work to curb illegal firearms importation is ongoing as the case proceeds through the courts.