As part of a Canada wide investigation into illicit firearms trade, 3D printers as well as 3D printed firearms and parts have been seized on the 21st of June from Penhold and Innisfail homes.
ALERT (Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams), found four 3D printers at a residence in Innisfail. Also, they discovered two 3D printed firearms that were completed, as well as nine different 3D printed firearm parts and 15 3D suppressors.
“At the time of the search, one was in the middle of printing a suppressor,” said ALERT communications director Mike Tucker about one of the printers.
Investigators in Penhold seized a 3D printer and 3D printed parts as well as eight firearms, including handguns, rifles, and some with 3D printed parts.
ALERT served search warrants on the same day in Grande Prairie, Brooks and Lloydminster. Anne County based on criminal intelligence provided by Quebec’s integrated team against firearms trafficking known as EILTA as part of Project Reproduction.
Seven homes in Alberta were searched and seized items included 8 3D printers, 11 3D printed firearms that had been completed; 45 3D printed firearms that had not yet been completed including frames and receivers. 21 3D printed firearms suppressors. Eight handguns. 72 long barrel firearms. And thousands of rounds ammunition.
Tucker said this was ALERT’s largest seizure of 3D-printed firearms to date and it’s part of an alarming trend. Most of the firearms were in black, tan, or olive, but others looked like plastic water guns with neon green and violet.
“They may look like toys, be in different colours, but present a very real threat to our communities.”
Project Reproduction executed searches warrants across eight provinces and in 46 different municipalities. A total of 440 guns were seized across the country, including 71 3D printed firearms and 52 handguns.
“This was a wide cross-section of communities and suspects. We’re still learning more about who these suspects are and what type of activity there were involved with in respect to 3D firearms and possible connections to organized crime,” Tucker said.
No one from Alberta has yet been charged. ALERT’s investigation remains ongoing and investigators are preparing reports and disclosure for Crown counsel.
The Edmonton firearms examination unit is currently testing the ballistics of firearms.
ALERT was established and is funded by the Alberta Government and is a compilation of the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources committed to tackling serious and organized crime.
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