The former owner of a Port Coquitlam gun store received two years’ probation and a 10-year firearm ban for illegally possessing a prohibited weapon without a licence.

Several other charges against Shahriar Tavazoie and his common-law wife Maryam Behagh were stayed by the Crown.

Tavazoie and Behagh, who operated Sureshot Hunting and Tactical on Prairie Avenue in PoCo, were arrested in February and initially charged with importing firearms knowing it is unauthorized and failing to report to customs officials.

RCMP alleged at the time that a package containing 64 high-capacity cartridge magazines destined for Tavazoie’s home were intercepted at the Vancouver customs mail centre.

The couple was arrested shortly after and a search of the home found a Heckler and Koch UMP, a Walther P22 handgun, a Remington shotgun and 1,500 rounds of armour-piercing ammunition, police alleged at the time.

Calls to the Crown prosecutor’s office in Victoria were not returned by The Tri-City News’ press deadline.

Since the arrests, Port Coquitlam has proposed changes to regulations governing stores and other businesses that deal in firearms.

If the new regulations are approved by council, they would limit the amount of floor space a store could dedicate to weapons and ammunition, limit signage and make it illegal for guns to be visible from the street.

A public hearing on the bylaw changes will be held before Monday’s PoCo city council meeting, at which councillors are scheduled to vote on third reading for the changes.

gmckenna@tricitynews.com