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An American couple has been charged after 24 undeclared firearms were seized at a border crossing in Alberta earlier this month.

Christopher Douglas Gies, 41, and Caroline Elizabeth Gies, 42, were on route to Alaska on April 9 when they were stopped at around 7 p.m. at the Coutts border station in Southern Alberta. The pair were driving separate SUVs and towing trailers when a search revealed the undeclared weapons, the Canada Border Services Agency said.

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Authorities found eight handguns, 16 long guns and 70 over-capacity ammunition magazines that had not been declared, the CBSA said. Four of the firearms were classified as prohibited, which means they cannot be imported into Canada under any circumstances.

The couple was charged with seven counts under the Customs Act and eight counts under the Criminal Code.

They could both face fines of up to $500,000 and up to 10 years in prison for the unauthorized possession of prohibited firearms.

“Failing to declare at the border is not a time-saver, and it is definitely not worth the risk,” Guy Rook, CBSA Director for southern Alberta, said in a statement. “We are happy to assist lawful gun owners with importing their firearms properly, but if you don’t declare them, you are breaking the law and will be treated accordingly.”

In 2017, the CBSA seized more than 50 firearms in southern Alberta.

The couple is scheduled to make an appearance on June 4 at the Lethbridge Provincial Court.