Cross-border trucker sentenced to prison for smuggling guns from Florida into Canada

A former truck driver has been sentenced to federal prison for taking part in an international firearms trafficking conspiracy.

Erhan John Er, 35, of Sarasota, Florida, was sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison, according to an April 2 statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

Er pleaded guilty to charges on December 19, 2024.

Officials say that from February to September 2022, Er was employed as a cross-border truck driver based in Sarasota.

Er agreed to purchase firearms for co-conspirator in Canada.

In July and September 2022, officials say Er purchased 28 guns from dealers in Sarasota and Naples, Florida, and the smuggled the weapons across the Canadian border.

The guns were then sold to the co-conspirator for $1,000 (CAD) each.

Canadian authorities have recovered ten of the weapons “from crime scenes in Ontario and Quebec.”

Officials say that all of the recovered firearms so far have “obliterated serial numbers” but that investigators were able to restore the serial numbers and trace the guns back to Er.

“Er falsely claimed to gun dealers that he was buying guns for himself, only to smuggle the guns into Canada, where they were used in multiple crimes,” stated U.S. Attorney Kehoe. “Working together with our local, federal, and international partners, this scheme was uncovered and Er has been brought to justice.”

“This investigation demonstrates the effectiveness of cross border partnerships in protecting our communities. The OPP remains committed to working closely with our Canadian and U.S. law enforcement partners to disrupt organized criminal networks, enhance public safety and prevent illegal firearms from crossing our shared border,” said OPP Chief Superintendent Mike Stoddart, Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau.

Investigating agencies include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, including ATF’s Attachés in Ontario and Quebec and ATF’s Buffalo and Rochester, New York Field Offices; Homeland Security Investigations, including HSI’s Toronto Attaché; with the assistance of the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the Canada Border Services Agency; the Durham Regional Police Service; the Halton Regional Police Service; the Hamilton Police Service; Ontario Provincial Police; the Sûreté du Québec; the Thunder Bay Police Service; the Toronto Police Service; the York Regional Police; the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office; and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.