(CMR) The case against Russian-Canadian Anton Parygin, who has been charged with the illegal importation of three guns into the Cayman Islands, took a dramatic turn on Wednesday after Justice Carter ruled Parygin had lawfully declared the weapons under Section 5 of the Firearms Act.
Under Section 5 of the Firearms Act, every traveler who declares under section 4 that he has any firearm or bulletproof vest in his possession shall either a) cause such firearm or bullet-proof vest to be retained upon the vessel or aircraft upon which he arrived into the Islands until after such vessel or aircraft departs from the Islands; or (b) deliver such firearm or bullet-proof vest to a customs officer in a sealed packet to be dealt with in accordance with section 6, unless the traveler is the holder of a permit under section 19, or he has the written approval of the Commissioner under section 3(2), authorizing the importation of such firearm or bullet-proof vest into the Islands.
Section 6 allows for the firearm or bullet-proof vest to be retained in the sealed packet until the traveler from whom it was received produces to a customs officer a permit or the Commissioner’s written approval authorizing the importation of such firearm or bullet-proof vest into the Islands and pays the appropriate duty on such firearm or bullet-proof vest, in which event it shall be delivered to the traveler.
Parygin reportedly declared the weapons to Customs and Border Control (CBC) when he arrived at the Owen Roberts International Airport.
The question has now arisen that if he lawfully declared the guns when he arrived in the Cayman Islands, can he be charged with illegal importation? The prosecution, however, has still decided to move forward with the charges. The matter is expected to return to court next month.
Parygin, who has been charged with six counts of importation and possession of an unlicensed firearm, is represented by KC Ben Tonner and James Stenning.
Parygin arrived in the Cayman Islands on 28 January 2023 and brought in three firearms: a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol, a 12-gauge shotgun, and a semiautomatic rifle with a 16-inch barrel.
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