Nearly two years after police in B.C. broke up what they called a major gun trafficking operation, all five men caught in the bust have been sentenced.
The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) seized a cache of handguns, a rifle, prohibited gun parts, ammunition, drugs and money in raids in a 2023 operation.
“Early results indicate that the firearms have been sourced both domestically and internationally,” the CFSEU said in a media release at the time.
Police arrested five men, all of whom have now been sentenced.
The last of the five, Derek Johnston, 35, appeared in Surrey Provincial Court on Wednesday, after pleading guilty last November to a lesser offence of transferring firearms.
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He had initially been charged with three counts of firearms trafficking.
Johnston was caught in an undercover operation in 2023 where he sold a rifle and ammunition for $3,500 to an undercover officer at Colossus Langley.
Police later raided his home in North Vancouver and properties in six Metro Vancouver municipalities.
Johnston was handed a two-year conditional sentence, which will be served under house arrest, followed by one year of probation.
In handing down the sentence, the judge noted Johnston had no prior criminal record, was working and had taken steps to address his substance abuse.
The other four men, who ranged in age from 24 to 39, have been handed a range of sentences.
Last May, the undercover sting’s target, Arman Giordano, was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to eight counts of firearms trafficking and one count of possessing drugs for the purpose of trafficking.
Brandon Nguyen is serving nine years in prison after he pleaded guilty to two counts of firearms trafficking, and one count each of possessing a loaded firearm and possessing drugs for the purpose of trafficking.
Ali Taghan was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of firearms trafficking and one count of firearms possession.
Jerry Lino also pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of transferring firearms and was given a conditional sentence of two years less a day followed by one year of probation.
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