Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Early in 2024, Saskatchewan RCMP’s Prince Albert Crime Reduction Team (CRT) began an investigation into firearms trafficking in the Hudson Bay area.
As a result of continued investigation, Prince Albert CRT and Saskatchewan RCMP’s Emergency Response Team executed a search warrant at a residence in the Viellardville, SK area on March 6, 2024.
Officers located and seized items including:
– 40 rifles;
– two handguns;
– approximately 20 more firearms in various states of disassemble;
– more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition;
– powder and rifle casings used to reload shells;
– boxes of prohibited high capacity rifle magazines;
– two crates of illegal cigarettes;
– mint coins and gold jewelry investigators believe are stolen; and
– small amounts of cocaine and crystal methamphetamine as well as trafficking paraphernalia.
An adult male was arrested at the scene. As a result of continued investigation, 56-year-old Steven Bondy from Hudson Bay, SK is charged with:
– one count, weapons trafficking, Section 99(2), Criminal Code;
– two counts, unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon, Section 91(3), Criminal Code;
– two counts, possession of property obtained by crime, Section 354(1)(a), Criminal Code; and
– two counts, possession for the purpose of trafficking, Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
He has been remanded into custody until his next scheduled court appearance in Nipawin on March 13, 2024.
“CRT’s mandate is to suppress the activity of criminals that threaten community safety. This is a perfect example of how they can work with local detachments to literally remove risk from our communities,” says S/Sgt. Ryan How, north district manager of the Saskatchewan RCMP’s Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Team. “Dozens of firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition have been removed from the underground market, and potentially from getting into criminal hands throughout Saskatchewan.”
Saskatchewan RCMP’s Hudson Bay detachment and Police Dog Services assisted with this investigation.
The investigation continues. Anyone with information should contact their local police of jurisdiction. Dial 310-RCMP to reach your local RCMP detachment. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.
Background:
The Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Team (SERT) consists of Saskatchewan RCMP’s Crime Reduction Team (CRT) and Warrant Enforcement Suppression Team (WEST), as well as the Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Team (STRT). SERT will help the Saskatchewan RCMP continue to fulfill its mandate as the province’s police force – keeping our communities safe.