TORONTO – A 35-year-old former truck driver from Florida, identified as Erhan John Er, has been sentenced to four years in a U.S. prison for his role in a sophisticated gun-smuggling operation that fueled violent crime in Canada. Investigations revealed that Er used his position as a cross-border driver to transport firearms purchased legally in the United States into Ontario and Quebec. Authorities found that these weapons were later used in at least ten major crimes, including homicides and high-profile shootings across several Canadian cities.
The smuggling ring operated by purchasing handguns in Florida and reselling them to criminal networks in Canada for a significant profit. Er reportedly charged a smuggling fee of approximately $1,000 per weapon on top of the retail price. Records indicate that in 2022 alone, he moved at least 28 firearms across the border. While several have been seized by police, at least 18 of these weapons remain unaccounted for and are believed to still be in circulation among criminal elements.
Forensic evidence has directly linked Er’s smuggled weapons to specific acts of violence, including the June 2024 murder of Tobenna Obiaga in Hamilton and a chaotic shootout outside a Toronto music studio in November 2024, where nearly 100 rounds were fired. Another Glock 45 handgun traced back to him was recovered in connection with a murder investigation in Quebec. To hide his tracks, Er used a grinding machine to remove the serial numbers from the guns, but investigators successfully used advanced technology to restore the numbers and trace the sales back to him.
During a raid on his Florida property, police discovered the equipment used to deface the weapons along with a diary detailing his illegal transactions. While Er has been sentenced, the investigation continues into his Canadian associates, specifically a primary contact in Toronto who remains at large. Toronto Police underscored the severity of the issue, noting that approximately 86% of handguns used in local crimes are illegally smuggled into the country from the United States.
