Items seized as the result of a search warrant in Red Deer in January 2023. (Red Deer RCMP)

By rdnewsNOW staff

27 counts

Charges laid in year-long Red Deer weapons trafficking investigation

Mar 9, 2024 | 12:05 PM

An arrest warrant has been issued for the person wanted in connection to a year-long weapons trafficking investigation, Red Deer RCMP say.

Red Deer Detachment say this week that they’ve finally been able to lay charges, more than a year after beginning its investigation.

It was January 2023, they say, when members executed a search warrant at a private residence in Red Deer.

During the search, police seized:

• Firearms & firearm components
• equipment for the manufacturing of firearms
• a stolen vehicle which had the VIN changed
• equipment for altering the VIN of stolen vehicles
• fraudulent documents & equipment for creating these documents
• stolen property
• various drugs & other equipment

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RCMP continued to investigate as the year went on, and have now laid 27 charges against 48-year-old Quinn Olson of Red Deer.

His charges include:

• Possession of Firearms for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Weapons Manufacturing
• Alter Vehicle Identification Number
• Possess Forged Document
• Possess Instrument for making a Forged Document
• Fraud greater than $5000
• Identity Theft
• Possession of an Intercepting Device
• Possession of a Weapon for Dangerous Purpose
• Possession of Property obtained by Crime over $5000
• Possession of Property obtained by Crime under $5000
• Fail to Comply with Undertaking
• Unauthorized possession of a Firearm x4
• Disobey Order of Court x4
• Possession of a Controlled Substance x7

As noted, an arrest warrant has been issued for his arrest.

“This investigation is an excellent example of intelligence-led policing and furthers our goals with the City of Red Deer’s policing priorities,” said Inspector Heidi Ravenhill.

Adds Cst. Andrew Devine: “A concerned citizen had phoned police to report suspicious activity, which assisted with the investigation at its onset. This investigation exemplifies how important partnering with our community members can be to detect and deter crime to make Red Deer safer.”

Red Deer RCMP encourage the public to report suspicious activity. You can contact Red Deer RCMP at 403-406-2200. 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. To report crime online, or for access to RCMP news and information, download the Alberta RCMP app through Apple or Google Play.