Sicamous man facing drugs and weapons charges after CBSA bust

VANCOUVER — A Sicamous man is facing drug trafficking and weapons charges connected to the seizure of three prohibited devices that were in a courier package that was seized at Vancouver International Airport in April.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) says the package was addressed to Jesse Pat Lyle, who has a lifetime firearms prohibition.

In a statement Friday (Dec. 27), the CBSA says a firearm with an obliterated serial number; two firearm magazines, one spring-loaded baton, one stun gun, and “trafficking quantities” of illegal drugs were seized after search warrants were executed on Lyle’s vehicle and boat in June in partnership with the RCMP.

They say Lyle is now facing a series of charges including:

• One count of Possession of a Restricted Firearm with readily available ammunition under Section 95(1) of the Criminal Code;
• One count of Possession of a Firearm with a Defaced Serial Number under Section 108(1)(b) of the Criminal Code;
• One count of Possession of a Firearm in Contravention of a Prohibition Order under Section 117.01(1) of the Criminal Code;
• Two counts of Possession of a Prohibited Weapon under Section 91(2) of the Criminal Code
• Four counts of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking under Section 5.2 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

“The Canada Border Services Agency works hard to intercept undeclared firearms and illegal drugs and investigates those who break Canada’s laws,” Nina Patel, Regional Director General, Canada Border Services Agency, Pacific Region said in a statement.

“The efforts of our officers and investigators, with support from the RCMP, have removed dangerous firearms and drugs from this community.”

Lyle was arrested by the RCMP and is scheduled to make a court appearance in Salmon Arm on Jan. 7, 2025.