Two charged after alleged smuggling of illegal guns into Canada south of Val Marie, Sask.

RCMP say two 19-year-old men are facing multiple weapons charges after they were discovered crossing into and out of the United States illegally south of Val Marie, Sask., allegedly smuggling guns.

According to an RCMP news release, the border enforcement team was notified by RCMP border patrol that a person had crossed illegally into Saskatchewan from Montana in a remote area south of the community of Val Marie. The person then re-entered the U.S. illegally in the same location soon after and drove away in a truck that was then stopped by United States Border Patrol (USBP) resulting in the arrest of the two suspects, a 19-year-old man from Saskatoon and another 19-year-old man from Calgary, Alta.

While the arrest was ongoing RCMP say investigators then searched the rural area where the two men allegedly crossed back and forth from the U.S. and found a box containing a pistol that is illegal in Canada, the release said.

According to the release, further investigation determined the two men initially entered the U.S legally at a designated border crossing in early January. The men are not facing charges in the U.S at this time and were returned to Canada on Jan. 7, RCMP said.

Further investigation then led to a residence on 9th Avenue North in Saskatoon that police searched on Jan. 8. During the search, RCMP said officers found multiple quantities of chemicals/compounds that required the assistance of an explosives disposal unit.

According to the release, the materials seized were sent to Health Canada for further analysis. Officers also found four guns, two that are illegal in Canada, and around 500 rounds of ammunition while searching the residence.

As a result, 19-year-old Arya Payendefar from Saskatoon and 19-year-old Nathaniel Rose from Calgary were both charged with one count of smuggle into Canada, clandestinely, a firearm, the importation of which is prohibited, controlled or regulated, one count of unauthorized import of a firearm into Canada, one count of possession of prohibited devices without a licence and one count of possession of a firearm without a licence.

RCMP said with the investigation still underway more charges may be laid in the coming weeks. Both suspects will appear in Swift Current Provincial Court next on Feb. 12.

“This is an excellent example of how collaboration and pro-active action can quickly develop into a significant investigation involving many agencies and span across borders and communities. It highlights how vital policing relationships are in disrupting criminal activity and keeping the public safe on both sides of the Canadian-U.S. border,” superintendent Andrew Farquhar with RCMP Federal Policing, Northwest Region in Saskatchewan said in the release.

Val Marie, Sask. is about 350 kilometres southwest of Regina.