A routine cannabis-related traffic stop in Mississauga in Canada has led to the seizure of a loaded Beretta handgun and the arrest of four young men, including a Ghanaian national.

According to a report by myjoyonline.com on September 8, 2025, officers from the Strategic and Tactical Enforcement Policing (STEP) unit stopped a vehicle near Mid Way Boulevard and Davand Drive on August 30 for suspected violations of Canada’s Cannabis Control Act.

Peel Regional Police identified the suspects as Rashad Inoussa, 23, of Toronto; Eric Obeng, 22, of Toronto; Peter Golding, 27, of Mississauga; and Ryan Osai, 24, of Tottenham.

All four remain in custody pending a bail hearing.

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The police have indicated that the suspects face multiple charges under the Criminal Code, including unauthorised possession of a firearm, knowledge of unauthorised possession of a firearm, and possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm.

Additional charges include careless storage of a firearm or ammunition, possession of a prohibited device or ammunition, and being an occupant of a vehicle with knowledge of unauthorised firearm possession.

“They face multiple Criminal Code charges, including unauthorised possession of a firearm, knowledge of unauthorised possession of a firearm, and possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm,” the report said.

The suspects also face cannabis-related charges for having the substance readily available in a motor vehicle.

The police added that Ryan Osai, who was already under a court order prohibiting him from owning firearms due to prior offences, has been slapped with an extra charge of possession of a firearm contrary to order.
The firearm has been seized as evidence, while investigators say inquiries are ongoing and may extend to other jurisdictions.

Authorities have warned that the case underscores the dangers posed by illegal firearms and youth involvement in violent crime across Ontario.

Community leaders have also voiced concerns over links between cannabis misuse, organised crime, and gun violence among young adults, particularly within immigrant communities such as the Ghanaian diaspora in the Greater Toronto Area.

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