London man found guilty of importing stun guns ....Some were arrested in Alberta

London man found guilty of importing stun guns ....Some were arrested in Alberta

By Jane Sims, The London Free Press

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There’s no more stun gun fun for a London man found guilty of importing banned weapons.

Daniel Palacio, 20, was found guilty of importing a prohibited weapon and possession of prohibited weapons, for seven stun-gun flashlights he bought online two years ago when he was in high school.

When three of them were brought into Canada from China, Vancouver customs officials alerted police.

The OPP set up an undercover sting operation, first placing an alarm in the package, then using an officer dressed as a courier to deliver it to Palacio’s family home.

They moved in once the package was open and the alarm went off. Four more Weishi 916 pocket-sized flashlight stun guns were found in a bag in Palacio’s bedroom, plus cash.

Palacio said the other three were never sent to him.

The Crown contended Palacio bought in bulk to sell them.

Palacio testified he saw the devices online and thought they were “cool.” He found a website where they were advertised as high-powered, high voltage and “a personal bodyguard.”

He said he meant to order only one, but, after the seller offered him a deal, bought 10.

Superior Court Justice Helen Rady said the bulk purchase was “very troubling.”

Palacio said he thought the devices would break easily and by buying 10 he’d have ready replacements.

“Why buy 10, not two?” Rady asked, rejecting his evidence.

She accepted the evidence of two OPP officers that the devices are stronger and can cause more harm than police-issued Tasers that stream 50,000 volts.

One officer tested the device on himself by zapping his own leg, saying it was painful.

Palacio is to be sentenced July 8.

Canadian police intercept weapons shipment from China

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Canadian police intercepted four shipments of weapons imported from China, including stun guns, knives and brass knuckles, on their way to be delivered to a Calgary man's home, local media report.

The weapons, some prohibited, were destined for sale on the street and were likely to be used during home invasions, said investigators in a news report from Calgary Herald.

Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) staff in Vancouver discovered the first shipment at the end of March. The goods were declared as LED lights but instead contained stun guns, brass knuckles and butterfly knives, all considered prohibited weapons in Canada.

Three subsequent shipments seized by officials included 25 more stun guns, 19 butterfly knives and 20 sets of brass knuckles, the report said.

"These 89 weapons had the potential to be used against other people," Sgt Patrick Webb was quoted by Calgary Herald as saying. "We're pleased they won't have that opportunity," he said.

Investigators said the imported weapons are among 16,000 seized in Alberta, Canada's largest province, since 2006.

"I can't speak specifically regarding conducted energy weapons (stun guns) but I can say in the last five years CBSA has intercepted over 16,000 prohibited weapons in total -- that's an average of over eight per day," said Richard Cuzzetto, manager of criminal investigations at border services, according to the Canadian Press.

"This is the largest seizure of these types of weapons in Alberta this year. But there have been other years where you might have a seizure involving hundreds of prohibited weapons," he said.

Kyle Gibbons, 20, faces 17 charges including smuggling, possession of weapons, importing prohibited weapons as well as misdeclaration and drug possession.

Another man living in the house, Cameron Powell, 46, of Calgary, is charged with possession of a controlled substance.