3 Charged After Agents Bust Gun Smuggling Operation Across St. Clair River In MI: Feds

MICHIGAN — Three Canadian citizens are facing federal charges after undercover agents busted them trying to smuggle dozens of weapons into Canada by jet ski across the St. Clair River, according to federal officials.

Akeem Richards-Crawford, 31, Dwayne Harrison, 34, and Jannai Stewart, 35, were each charged with conspiracy to smuggle and smuggling of firearms and firearm magazines from the U.S. to Canada.

If convicted, they each face up to 10 years in prison for each smuggling count and up to 5 years in prison on the conspiracy count.

In October 2023, Officials said Richards-Crawford and Harrison traveled to Detroit from Canada and rented a vehicle and a hotel room in the area. The two then traveled to Houston and Cincinnati to grab firearms, and then returned to southeastern Michigan to execute their smuggling scheme, officials said.

In the early morning hours on Oct. 26, 2023, officials said Richards-Crawford and Harrison drove to the Algonac area with a backpack containing 36 firearms. Harrison then boarded a jet ski on the St. Clair River and traveled to Canada with the firearms, officials said.

When Harrison arrived in Canada, officials said he approached an unmarked police vehicle believing it was there to pick him up. After realizing his mistake, Harrison dropped the backpack and fled on foot, officials said.

Canadian officers found the backpack and recovered 36 firearms, each individually wrapped in tube socks, officials said.

Officers later found Stewart, who was the actual pickup driver, nearby after Harrison texted him "come get me" and "cops came," officials said.