https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2...rme-a-feu-3d-se-font-passer-les-menotteshttps://www.journaldemontreal.com/2...nts-darmes-a-feu-3d-de-partout-au-canadaVast network led by a Montrealer: about forty 3D firearm manufacturers arrested across the country
300 police officers across Canada led a major operation against the trafficking of homemade weapons
Police across Canada have seized more than 440 firearms and seized about 50 3D printers in a massive cross-Canada police operation on Tuesday targeting manufacturers and a parts supplier in Montreal.
“The seizures made it possible to stop 57 sources of supply. There are thus hundreds, even thousands of firearms that are not manufactured and that cannot end up in the hands [of criminals]", dropped Chief Inspector Benoit Dubé, Director of Criminal Investigations at the Sûreté du Québec (SQ).
No less than 300 police officers from the SQ, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Canada Border Services Agency participated in Operation "Reproduction" on Tuesday.
Hard blow to the network
These 64 searches and 45 arrests, which took place in several provinces across Canada, dealt a severe blow to a network of traffickers of firearms manufactured using 3D printers.
The alleged head of this network is a Montrealer who imported parts from Asia and then resold them to various manufacturers across Canada.
This supplier, who has a long "serious" criminal history and was not allowed to own weapons, was handcuffed yesterday. However, he was released while the investigation continues.
In total, 57 manufacturers across Canada were visited by police on Tuesday. They are aged between 16 and 77 and come from various backgrounds.
“We didn't have an exact profile. Some had a criminal record, others not,” said Chief Inspector Benoit Dubé during a press conference the day after the operation to take stock.
Everywhere in Quebec
In Quebec, 15 manufacturers were targeted in Montreal, Berthierville, New Carlisle, Pont-Rouge, Repentigny, Saint-Jean-de-Matha, Sainte-Angèle-de-Monnoir, Gatineau, Saint-Calixte, Quebec and Saint-Alexandre-d 'Iberville.
A single-family residence located in a peaceful area of ??Sainte-Angèle-de-Monnoir, in Montérégie, as well as a residential building at the foot of Mount Royal, in Montreal, were also searched, the QMI Agency was able to observe.
As a starting point for this major investigation, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) became interested in April 2021 in the importation by the Montreal supplier of "rails" specifically made for 3D printed weapons.
The imported parts came from a US exporter known to authorities, said Adriano Giannini, acting director at the CBSA.
“This is one of the biggest operations I have seen in my career targeting firearms,” said Chief Inspector Benoit Dubé, specifying that each weapon seized will have to be analyzed.
These types of weapons, also called ghost guns, are gaining popularity with criminals because they are less expensive, have no serial number and are therefore untraceable.
RESULTS OF THE “REPRODUCTION” OPERATION:
64 searches and 45 arrests
The searches resulted in the seizure of:
440 firearms, including:
62 handguns;
71 3D printed handguns;
2 long guns printed in 3D;
1 submachine gun;
52 3D printers;
32 3D printed chargers;
87 mufflers, including 63 3D printed;
176 gun frames printed in 3D.
