Mission man fined $21,000
Mission's George Thomas Tickell has been fined $21,000 by the B.C. Supreme Court for making false statements about the importation of replica firearms to Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA).
Tickell was charged in July 2008 after a two-year investigation by the CBSA's criminal investigation division in the Pacific Region. He pleaded guilty last June.
As the owner of the business, Geo Tec Concepts Ltd., Tickell had obtained a firearms licence, which granted him authorization to import prohibited devices (replica firearms) for use in the movie industry. However, when search warrants were executed at his businesses, there was evidence nearly all the replica firearms imported by the company were sold to a local retail outlet with the knowledge that nearly all the replica devices would be sold to the public.
“This significant fine demonstrates the serious nature of the crime. Replica firearms can easily be mistaken for real weapons and the dedication of our investigative officers, particularly in this lengthy case, reflects their diligence and commitment in protecting the health and safety of Canadians,” said Yvette-Monique Gray, director of the CBSA’s enforcement and intelligence division in the Pacific Region.
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