TAMPA, Fla. — Federal prosecutors gave what they called a “sneak peek” Wednesday into a complex transnational criminal organization trafficking weapons from South Florida into Canada.
Authorities said dozens of weapons made it across the border and that 29 were later recovered from Canadian crime scenes. At least three of them were used in homicides.
Tyler Corbin (Pinellas County Jail)
Officials said the arrests announced are just the beginning, as more charges could be coming.
According to prosecutors, this all began with a homicide in Canada. Authorities discovered the handgun used was allegedly bought by Tyler Corbin, 25, a Tampa resident and Canadian citizen.
As the feds dug deeper, they allege Corbin and four others brought at least 106 weapons into Canada.
Prosecutors say that as much as 80% of that number were handguns. The rest were long guns like AK-47s and AR-15s, all of which have been restricted across Canada since 2022.
Officials said those indicted would purchase a handgun, for example, at $500 in Tampa and sell it for $5,000 in Canada. Long guns can be sold for as much as $10,000, according to prosecutors.
Four of the five indicted suspects have been caught.
“We have reason to believe that there are significantly more weapons involved here than the 100-plus that we know about,” said Gregory Kehoe, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. “We think it’s well into 200, and as this goes on, we will come up with more seizures. I’m confident of that.”
Corbin was arrested days ago and was booked into the Pinellas County Jail. He was also charged with possession and intent to distribute fentanyl and MDMA, a methamphetamine.
Corbin, Edward Noel (26, Canada), Alfredo Santana (32, Miami), Omar Singateth (24, Canada), and Arif Jhuman (39, Canada) face charges.
None of the suspects are licensed to deal firearms.