An Airdrie man is charged with seven criminal counts relating to the importation of illegal weapons, after an investigation by the Airdrie RCMP Major Crimes Unit (MCU) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Jeffrey Gordon Bussey, 38, was charged July 12, according to Sgt. Andrew Boxall, supervisor of the MCU. The arrest came after a package originating in Hong Kong, labeled as containing flashlights, was intercepted at the border July 10 and found to contain six conducted-energy weapons, similar to a Taser, Boxall said. These types of weapons are prohibited in Canada. “CBSA notified Federal and Serious Organized Crime (FSOC) – which is a branch of the RCMP – that they had intercepted the packages,” he said. “FSOC then notified us, because it fell in our jurisdiction, and then we started working with CBSA.” RCMP executed a search warrant at a rural property northeast of Airdrie July 12, Boxall said. Further evidence and weapons were seized, including an edged weapon and a firearm. Bussey is charged with importation of a prohibited firearm, two counts of unlicensed possession of a firearm, careless storage of a firearm, unlicensed possession of a prohibited weapon and two counts of possession of a firearm while prohibited. According to Boxall, Bussey was released from custody July 12 and will appear in Airdrie Provincial Court Aug. 16.
