Weapons seized, man arrested in joint operation
Ten firearms, three high capacity magazines, a crossbow and thousands of rounds of ammunition were among the items seized following a combined forces investigation that ended in the arrest of a 32-year-old Duncan man on Sept. 26.
Officers with the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment joined B.C. Combined Forces Special Enforcement Units (CFSEUBC) from both the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island after learning the suspect was illegally selling firearms to "criminally involved people".
Local Mounties searched a North Cowichan residence on Upland Avenue and another on Hawkes Boulevard and seized the guns, ammunition and more. Both homes had medical marijuana licences. Evidence of small grow ops was found at both locations.
"This investigation is part of CFSEU-BC's ongoing targeted enforcement initiatives against those involved in organized crime and their associates who have or are selling guns and putting everyone in our communities at risk," said CFSEU-BC spokesperson Sgt. Lindsey Houghton. "The success of this quick investigation is a testament to the levels of cooperation that CFSEU-BC has with its policing partners across the province."
Investigators are now working to determine the origins of the firearms - which included handguns and rifles - and any connections to gangs and organized crime.
According to a press release issued by the Special Enforcement Unit, while there were no children found in either of the houses when searched, "of great concern to police was that there was evidence that children had been or were currently living in the Upland Avenue house."
The Ministry of Children and Family Development has been notified.
The arrested Duncan resident has a criminal record of violence and property crime related offences. He was released on a promise to appear in court at a later date.
The man has not been formally charged but faces a number of firearms-related charges ranging from unauthorized possession of firearms to possession of firearms for the purpose of trafficking and firearms trafficking. North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP spokesman Cpl. Jon Stuart said the work wouldn't have been done had it not been for the
help of the CFSEU-BC.
"It is important to recognize that the cooperation and coordination of a multi-agency response on a large scale operation such as this is a huge task," he said.
"We could not muster the resources to tackle these problems alone, and our partners in law-enforcement are vital in its success."
卑诗警方联合执法小组(CFSEU BC)表示在温哥华岛邓肯市(Duncan)查获一个地下军火库，查扣大量枪械，并逮捕一名涉案者，初步相信军火库与帮派罪案有关。
邓肯市警方于8月底发现有人违法贩枪後，通报CFSEU并展开联合行动，于9月26日持搜索令突袭两处物业，结果发现大量枪械、数千发子弹和防弹衣。此外屋内也发现种植大麻，但经查後确认两屋主都领有合法种植药用大麻的牌照。
警方相信，此地下军火库出售的枪械被用于温哥华岛和大温地区的犯罪活动，被捕的32岁邓肯市男子有暴力和财务罪案纪录，现尚未被正式起诉。警方正研究对他控以持有并意图贩卖非法枪械的相关罪名。
A Duncan man was arrested on September 26th and multiple firearms were seized following an investigation led by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) with the assistance of the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP Detachment.
CFSEU-BC investigators from both the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island offices collaborated with the Duncan RCMP’s General Investigation Section after information came in to the Duncan RCMP at the end of August that a Duncan area man was illegally selling firearms. On September 26th, CFSEU-BC and North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP officers arrested a man at the RCMP Detachment and executed two search warrants on local properties.
A search of an Upland Avenue address and an address in the 6200 block Hawkes Boulevard, both in Duncan, resulted in the seizure of a number of guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Additionally, it was discovered that both residences had medical marijuana licenses, with evidence of small grow ops found at both locations. While there were no children found in the houses at the time, of great concern to police was that there was evidence that children had been or were currently living in the Upland Avenue house. The Duncan RCMP are following up with the Ministry of Children and Family Development regarding what was found and associated safety concerns.
It is believed, at this early stage of the investigation, that these guns were destined to be sold to criminally-involved people on both Vancouver Island and the mainland. Investigators are now working to determine the origins of the guns and any connections to gangs and organized crime.
“This investigation is part of CFSEU-BC’s ongoing targeted enforcement initiatives against those involved in organized crime and their associates who have or are selling guns and putting everyone in our communities at risk,” says CFSEU-BC spokesperson Sergeant Lindsey Houghton. “The success of this quick investigation is a testament to the levels of cooperation that CFSEU-BC has with its policing partners across the province.”
"It is important to recognize that the cooperation and coordination of a multi-agency response on a large scale operation such as this is huge task. We could not muster the resources to tackle these problems alone, and our partners in law-enforcement are vital in its success" said Cpl. Jon Stuart, Media Relations Officer for the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP.
The man arrested, a 32-year old Duncan resident, has a past criminal record for violence and property crime-related offences. He was released from custody on a Promise to Appear and has not been formally charged as the investigation continues. The man potentially faces a number of firearms-related charges ranging from unauthorized possession of firearms to possession of firearms for the purpose of trafficking and firearms trafficking.