Two Central Alberta men are facing weapons charges after an RCMP investigation into illegal firearms activity at Maskwacis.
Maskwacis General Investigation Section launched an investigation on Nov. 17 to find those alleged to be behind illegal firearms crimes and the location of their stash of weapons.
Other Maskwacis police officers, Wetaskiwin Police Dog Services, and the RCMP Emergency Response Team, executed two search warrants at a residences at Ermineskin Cree Nation and at Samson Cree Nation.
Two men, both from Ermineskin First Nation, were arrested and are facing charges.
“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,” said Deme.
Two men, 26 and 34 years old, are facing charges of possession of an unauthorized firearm, possession of a firearm that has been altered or tampered with, possession of a firearm obtained by commission of an offence and three counts each of breaching firearms prohibitions.
The 34-year-old is facing two charges of breaching a release order.
Both remain in custody and are due in Wetaskiwin provincial court on Nov. 30.
If you have any information about any illegal firearms activity or any other crimes, you are asked to contact the 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) or online at www.P3Tips.com.