A Beausejour man is facing a raft of charges after a lengthy investigation by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), with the help of Winnipeg police, Manitoba RCMP and others.
The CBSA announced Tuesday that its integrated firearm enforcement team led the probe, which began in April of last year, when border officers found a shipment of items connected to the manufacture of “ghost guns.”
That investigation contributed to a raid March 12 at a rural property near Chatfield, Man., where officers seized a trove of weapons and paraphernalia, including nine long guns, a 3D printer and other parts equipment used to manufacture various types of guns, including prohibited rifles, plus magazines and ammunition.
Jeryn Peters, executive director of the CBSA’s prairie region said there are a few reasons the investigation took 11 months.
“Investigations like this can be complex. It takes some time to build the case up in order to be able to go and do those types of search warrants and other activities. So, there’s investigative work that happens throughout that time and work with our partners,” she said.
Despite the delay, she said the suspect may or may not have realized who got in the way of his package’s delivery.
“We’ve all ordered parcels through the mail that have been delayed for all variety of reasons, whether it’s supply chain issues or just delays in shipping. So it doesn’t necessarily point to an issue with law enforcement involvement or an interdiction,” Peters said.
A second search of the same home on April 9 led to the seizure of even more contraband, including a prohibited fully automatic AR-15 pattern rifle and an automatic switch for a Glock handgun, also a prohibited device.
A 53-year-old man faces charges including making false statements, possessing illegally imported goods, unauthorized possession of firearms and firearms manufacturing.
He will next appear in court June 7.
“There’s a variety of outcomes that can result from investigations like this,” Peters said.
“This case is before the courts now, and we’ll see how that turns out. But our team has experienced positive outcomes that have resulted in a wide variety of convictions and sentences related to smuggling and other offences.”