A Canadian man linked to a firearm found during a 2022 Edmonton search warrant has been sentenced in Texas, USA.
On Jan. 16, 2025, Canadian man Harsimran Dhaliwal, 31, was sentenced in the US to 82 months in prison and given a $30,000 fine for illegally purchasing handguns to smuggle into Canada.
According to court documents, Harsimran Dhaliwal, 31, a Canadian citizen, was operating a gun smuggling operation to smuggle handguns, which are illegal in Canada, across the border and distribute them to criminals. In 2022, Dhaliwal made arrangements with a straw purchaser to obtain numerous handguns in and around the Austin area. Dhaliwal then smuggled the handguns back to Canada. At least two of those weapons have been recovered in Canada and linked to crimes committed there.
“The international smuggling of firearms is dangerous and harmful and our office will vigorously prosecute persons who illegally obtain, transport, and distribute guns” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
Dhaliwal was identified as a result of a Nov. 2, 2022 EPS search warrant in two Edmonton residences, where EPS EDGE (Edmonton Drug and Gang Enforcement) members located eight handguns and more than $930,000 in drugs and cash. In that investigation, Adam Salah Johma, then 53, and another 34-year-old man were charged with 102 offences. The 34-year-old man could not be named to protect the identity of a child who was found living in a residence where drug trafficking was taking place.
The EPS Firearms Examination Unit was able to restore the serial number from one of the firearms seized from the search warrant. RCMP Canadian National Firearms Tracing Centre then traced the firearm to a buyer in Texas. Agents with the American ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) developed a suspect in Edmonton, and together with members of EPS FIU, identified the suspect as Sherwood Park man Harsimran Dhaliwal.
