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← Back to Law ExplorerLast verified: June 2026 · Source: laws-lois.justice.gc.ca
Weapons & FirearmsIndictable
§100

Possession for Purpose of Weapons Trafficking

Possession for purpose of weapons trafficking

Weapons & Firearms
Maximum Sentence

14 years (mandatory minimum 3 years for firearms, 5 years for repeat offences)

Classification: Indictable
🍁 Immigration Impact

Straight indictable offence. Serious criminality under IRPA s.36(1). Closely related to weapons trafficking with similar immigration consequences.

🍁 In Simple Terms

Holding weapons with the plan of moving them on to someone else. No sale has to happen, the intention is enough, and the ceiling is the same flat 14 years as trafficking itself with the same 3 and 5 year minimums. It counts as serious criminality for entry.

Legal Text, Criminal Code s. 100

(1) Every person commits an offence who possesses a prohibited firearm, a restricted firearm, a non-restricted firearm, a prohibited weapon, a restricted weapon, a prohibited device, a firearm part, any ammunition or any prohibited ammunition for the purpose of (a) transferring it, whether or not for consideration, or (b) offering to transfer it, knowing that the person is not authorized to transfer it under the Firearms Act or any other Act of Parliament or any regulations made under any Act of Parliament. (2) Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) when the object in question is a prohibited firearm, a restricted firearm, a non-restricted firearm, a prohibited device, a firearm part, any ammunition or any prohibited ammunition is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years and to a minimum punishment of imprisonment for a term of (a) in the case of a first offence, three years; and (b) in the case of a second or subsequent offence, five years. (3) In any other case, a person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 14 years.

Amendment History (13)
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 100
R.S., 1985, c. 11 (1st Supp.), s. 2, c. 27 (1st Supp.), ss. 14, 203, c. 27 (2nd Supp.), s. 10, c. 1 (4th Supp.), s. 18(F)
1990, c. 16, s. 2, c. 17, s. 8
1991, c. 40, s. 12
1992, c. 51, s. 33
1995, c. 22, ss. 10, 18(F), c. 39, s. 139
1996, c. 19, s. 65
2008, c. 6, s. 11
2015, c. 27, s. 24
2022, c. 15, s. 7
2023, c. 32, s. 1.2
2023, c. 32, s. 14
2023, c. 32, s. 71
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