After intercepting a silencer imported from China, authorities charge London, Ont. duo with much more
The accused were in possession of homemade firearms and a 3D printer, investigators say
Seven months after two suspicious packages were intercepted by Canada's border services agents, two men from London, Ont. are facing a multitude of charges related to smuggling and manufacturing prohibited devices.
Benito Schiavone, 33, and Modesto Dino Schiavone, 57, will also be charged with drug possession when they appear in court later in July.
Two men were initially flagged to authorities in October 2024 when a package from China containing a silencer, and another containing a 50-round magazine for a high-powered firearm from the United States, were intercepted at a mail processing facility in Mississauga.
An investigation by the Canada Border Services Agency's (CBSA) enforcement team got underway, and a home in London was searched on May 29, 2025. Officials say the home was shared by the two men, but didn't say how the two were related or where in the city the home was located.
Details of the investigation were made public this week.
Investigators said they found homemade firearms, the equipment to make them, as well as synthetic drugs more powerful than fentanyl.
The items seized included:
- privately manufactured firearms
- firearm parts
- a 3D printer
- 35 g cocaine
- 24.5 g carfentanil
- oxycodone and boric acid
The two men are charged with eight counts each of unauthorized possession of a prohibited firearm, four counts each of smuggling prohibited devices, four counts each of unauthorized importation of a prohibited device, and two counts each of manufacturing a prohibited firearm.