Florida Trucker Sentenced for Smuggling Firearms into Canada
A Florida truck driver has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for trafficking dozens of handguns into Canada, which are linked to two murders and various crime scenes across Ontario and Quebec. Erhan John Er, age 35, received this sentence in April 2026 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to traffic firearms across the U.S. border.
According to U.S. court records, Er legally purchased 28 firearms in Florida during the summer of 2022. He then transported these weapons nearly 2,000 kilometers north to sell them to a Canadian trafficker, charging the retail price plus a $1,000 smuggling fee for each gun. While 10 of these firearms have been recovered from crime scenes spanning from Thunder Bay to Toronto, 18 remain missing.
The investigation started when authorities successfully restored serial numbers that had been obliterated on weapons obtained during various criminal investigations. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe explained how Er managed to circumvent federal regulations during his initial purchases in Florida.
“Er falsely represented to gun dealers that he was buying the weapons for personal use, only to smuggle them into Canada, where they were involved in multiple crimes,” stated U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe.
One of the firearms, a Glock 49 associated with the operation, was recovered by Hamilton police following the homicide of 45-year-old Tobenna Obiaga on June 30, 2024. Another, a Glock 27, was identified in a high-profile shootout in Toronto on November 11, 2024, where around 100 rounds were fired near a recording studio. Toronto police noted that 86% of crime guns seized in the city last year came from the U.S.
ATF Special Agent Joshua Dominguez indicated in a criminal complaint that the firearms had their serial numbers removed mechanically to evade detection. Investigators also found that Er had attempted to buy more powerful semi-automatic weapons online, but this transaction was blocked due to being flagged as suspicious.
While Er begins serving his prison sentence, the investigation into his suspected Canadian accomplice, referred to as “Person-1,” is ongoing. Kehoe confirmed that officials are still pursuing the individual responsible for paying the smuggling fees. “The matter continues to be investigated regarding that individual,” he said. Angie Sloan, spokesperson for the Ontario Provincial Police, stated that the agency is actively processing evidence related to the case.
