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(Maskwacis RCMP)
34-Year-Old and 26-Year-Old charged

Two arrested, illegal gun recovered, following multiple search warrants in Maskwacis

Nov 24, 2021 | 4:25 PM

Two people are facing charges following an illegal firearms investigation in Central Alberta this month.

On Wednesday, Nov. 17, Maskwacis RCMP General Investigation Section (GIS) began conducting an investigation in regards to the location of illegal firearms, and persons associated to illegal firearms activity.

On Thursday, Nov. 18, Maskwacis GIS with the assistance of Maskwacis General Duty, Wetaskiwin Police Dog Services (PDS), and the RCMP Emergency Response Team (ERT), executed two search warrants at a residence on the Ermineskin Cree Nation and another residence on the Samson Cree Nation.

A 26-year-old male and 34-year-old male, both from the Ermineskin Cree Nation, were each charged with possession of a firearm knowing possession is unauthorized, possession of a firearm knowing the firearm has been altered, or tampered with, and possession of a firearm obtained by a commission of an offence.

According to Maskwacis Mounties, one of the men was also charged with three counts of breach of firearms prohibition, while the other man was also charged with three counts of breach of firearms prohibition and two counts of fail to comply with a release order.

“Whether it’s the recovery of one firearm or multiple, this is one gun that won’t be placed in the wrong hands” says Cst. Andrew Deme of the Maskwacis RCMP. “Members of our detachment work hard through pro-active patrols, intelligence based investigations, and crime reduction initiatives to seize illegal guns from our streets. We encourage our community residents to report any illegal firearms activity to us or through Crime Stoppers.”

Police say the men have been remanded into custody after a judicial interim release hearing and both are scheduled to appear in Wetaskiwin provincial court Nov. 30.

If you have any information about any illegal firearms activity or any other crimes, you are asked to contact Maskwacis RCMP at (780) 585-4600 or your local police.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.