Authorities arrested 13 people suspected of being involved in firearms trafficking and manufacturing following a year-long investigation. The majority of devices seized during the searches were designed using 3D printers.
This is the Integrated Team to Combat Arms Trafficking (EILTA), made up of members of the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police ( RCMP) and the Canada Border Services Agency who caught the alleged criminals. The arrests took place on Wednesday and Thursday following an operation begun last summer aimed at combating trafficking and artisanal manufacturing of firearms.
More than twenty Canadian police forces then participated in 64 searches and 45 arrests.
Since the beginning of the investigation, searches have led to the seizure of 440 firearms, including 62 handguns, 71 3D printed handguns, 3D printed long guns, a submachine gun, 52 3D printers, 32 printed magazines in 3D and 87 silencers, including 63 3D printed.
“In total, 13 arrests were made in Montreal, Berthierville, New Carlisle, Repentigny, Gatineau, Quebec and Saint-Calixte,” indicate the police force in a press release.
The suspects are Joël Hector, 39, from Côte-des-Neiges, and David Duvall, 34, from Montreal. They are currently detained for appearance. The other suspects, eight men aged 26 to 63 and three women aged 33 to 35, were released pending proceedings.
“They could face several charges, including unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession for the purpose of trafficking weapons and manufacturing a firearm. »
Any information related to the possession, trafficking, use and manufacture of firearms can be communicated to the CENTAURE information line at 1-833-888-ARME (2763).