Calgary man faces charges of trafficking in firearms
Arrest linked to purchase of 7 handguns follows various police investigations
A Calgary man has been charged with firearms offences after allegedly purchasing seven handguns over a nine-month period beginning in February 2016.
Philip Edward Sarrasin, 26, is charged with firearms trafficking, possession of a firearm at an unauthorized place and failing to report a lost firearm.
His arrest follows an investigation by the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT), which includes police members from across the province. He was arrested Oct. 24 with the help of Calgary police.
ALERT referred to the alleged offences as incidents of “straw purchasing.” The term refers to a crime that typically involves someone without a criminal record using a valid Possession and Acquisition License to obtain firearms for someone who otherwise could not, or does not want their name associated with the transaction.
Sarrasin is accused of purchasing handguns through lawful means before selling them on the criminal market, according to ALERT’s guns and gangs unit.
Three of the handguns allegedly purchased by Sarrasin later surfaced during various police investigations. One of those was a drug trafficking investigation conducted by the Calgary police gang enforcement unit in April 2017, which resulted in the seizure of a Glock handgun.
Eight months later, Canadian Pacific Railway Police found a loaded Glock handgun along a Calgary rail line.
Last month, Toronto police seized a Glock handgun during a drug arrest.
Other firearms allegedly purchased by Sarrasin remain unaccounted for, according to ALERT.
ALERT’s investigation dates back to March when it received information about suspected firearms trafficking. The RCMP’s National Weapons Enforcement Support Team also helped with the investigation.
Members of the public who suspect drug or gang activity in their community can call local police, or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
ALERT, which brings together integrated policing units from across the province to strategically tackle serious and organized crime, includes members of Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat police, along with RCMP.