Semi-automatic, ammo, drugs, cash seized, five arrested
Month-long drug ring probe led to joint early morning raids in Ottawa, Gatineau
A Gatineau police-led operation aimed at taking down a drug ring netted what police described as a loaded semi-automatic assault rifle with high-capacity magazines, along with drugs and cash.
Five people face charges following the month-long investigation sparked by a tip from the public about what police say was a network serving both sides of the river.
The Gatineau force’s anti-gang unit teamed up with their capital counterparts for three simultaneous raids early Thursday morning at apartments 8 and 16 at 16 Ch de la Savane in Gatineau’s districts des Promenades and 48 Ontario St. in Overbrook.
It was in Ottawa that the semiautomatic rifle was seized and seven people arrested.
Six were released but one, 24-year-old Ali Ahmed, was scheduled to appear in court Thursday charged with careless use, handling or storage of a firearm, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, multiple charges related to the unlicensed possession of a restricted or prohibited firearm and possession of a loaded restricted firearm.
Gatineau police said the rifle was a 7.62 mm calibre model, seized with two high-capacity magazines and five dozen rounds of ammunition, but declined to offer more specific information about the gun or how it reached the street ahead of the court process.
Ottawa police described the semi-automatic centre fire rifle as an “assault rifle” — a contentious definition to some because the weapon doesn’t have full automatic capability.
An independent firearms examiner couldn’t identify the specific model and make from the photograph released by Ottawa police but said guns of this type were originally designed as military rifles in the 1950s for the government of the former Czechoslovakia.
Many were imported legally by military collectors, hunters and competition shooters with the appeal that they could be used off the range and inexpensive ammunition is available.
Some models in this family of firearms are prohibited weapons in Canada and magazines for this gun that hold more than five rounds are banned.
A similar rifle was used in a 2012 attempt on the life of thenQuebec premier Pauline Marois in 2012 that killed one bystander and wounded another.
Gatineau police encouraged residents to help in what they described as the fight against drugs and gangs by reporting any illegal activity to the police’s tip line.
Taking firearms out of the hands of criminals help makes the region’s streets safer, said Sgt. JeanPaul Le May said.
“This is one less gun,” he said. Police also seized 11.4 grams of crack, slightly more than 22 grams of cocaine, more than a pound of pot, 7.16 grams of powdered methamphetamine, 184 oxycodone tablets and $6,965 in cash.
Gatineau police arrested two men, and two women were arrested near Gatineau and face charges including possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime. They were not identified pending court appearances. Three were released on a promise to appear in court but a 23-year-old man was to appear in court in Gatineau Friday.