U.S. gun smuggling fuels rise in Canadian gun violence [Video]

DALLAS — The U.S. and Canada share a 5,500-mile border. While trade and immigration have been longstanding concerns, a new and alarming challenge has emerged: a surge in firearms being smuggled from the U.S. into Canada.

Canadian authorities report a significant increase in the illegal flow of U.S.-made weapons, which they said are linked to much of the gun violence in their country. 

“There’s a variety of smuggling techniques that are used,” said Superintendent Steve Watts, head of the Integrated Guns and Gangs Task Force for Toronto Police, during a news conference. The methods include land crossings, smuggling by plane, trucks and even across waterways.

Deputy Chief Alvaro Almeida of the York Regional Police Services echoed these concerns. “The proliferation of illegal guns in our communities is alarming, and we are all battling the same challenges …