The Calgary Police Service executed four search warrants in relation to a firearms investigation led by Montreal’s Équipe intégrée de lutte au trafic d’armes (EILTA).
The investigation, called Project Reproduction according to a RCMP news release, is a nationwide investigation into the manufacturing and trafficking of privately-made firearms (PMFs). It involved police agencies in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Mounties said PMFs are illegal, untraceable and unsafe, posing risks to the general public and the user because of their poor quality.
Mounties said a total of 45 individuals were arrested and numerous illegal items were seized as a result of the investigation, including 440 traditional and 3D-printed firearms.
The RCMP said 52 3D printers were also seized.
Searches were conducted at three residences in Calgary located in the following areas:
- The 200 block of Falmere Way N.E.
- The 0 to 100 block of Warwick Drive S.W.
- The 0 to 100 block of Covepark Terrace N.E.
A residence in Langdon, Alta., was also searched in relation to the investigation, a CPS spokesperson said. The residence was located in the 700 block of Boulder Creek Drive.
CPS did not provide information about arrests or how many illegal items were seized at each location.
“Our investigation in Calgary remains ongoing and further details will be released as the investigation progresses,” the CPS said in a tweet on Wednesday evening.
EILTA is a police agency based in Montreal created to target firearms trafficking.
ALERT reveals more details about investigation
In a news release issued Thursday morning, the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) provided information about other search warrants executed in Alberta in connection with the investigation.
“Based on criminal intelligence provided by EILTA, ALERT conducted a number of search warrants on June 21, 2023 at homes in Grande Prairie, Penhold, Innisfail, Brooks, Lloydminster and Onoway,” ALERT said, adding the warrants resulted in “numerous” 3D-printed firearms being seized and its investigation is ongoing.
“This cross-Canada investigation has highlighted the divergence of technology and organized crime,” said Marc Cochlin, the CEO of ALERT.
“These 3D-printed firearms are self-produced crime guns designed to evade detection, or modify existing firearms in a prohibited capacity.”
ALERT did not say if any charges had been laid in connection with the firearms seizures.
–With files from Phil Heidenreich, Global News