CHAT News File Photo

By Chris Brown

Criminal organization

Arrests made at Coutts border blockade

Feb 14, 2022 | 11:01 AM

COUTTS, AB – Alberta RCMP say they have arrested and detained 11 people connected to the Coutts blockade who had access to a cache of firearms and a large quantity of ammunition.

Mounties say they seized 13 long guns and a number of handguns, and the ammunition as well as multiple sets of body armour, a machete, high capacity magazines.

The arrests and seizures happened in the early hours of Feb. 14, after Mounties became aware of the group, which was said to “have a willingness to use force against the police if any attempts were made to disrupt the blockade,” according to RCMP. Search warrants were executed on three trailers connected to the criminal organization.

Speaking at a news conference shortly after the arrests were announced, Premier Jason Kenney said RCMP “will proceed with enforcement against those who are at and around the blockade at Coutts” now that this potential threat has been resolved.

The premier said the investigation has been ongoing for the past week, and RCMP didn’t want to jeopardize it by moving on enforcement at the larger blockade.

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He added enforcement action will start today, and the government has heavy equipment and workers to remove the commercial vehicles and others blocking highways.

RCMP say a small segment of the protesters have a “militant mindset.” A large farm tractor and a semi truck, both involved in the blockade attempted to ram a police vehicle at about 8 p.m. on Feb. 13. The police avoided the collision and officers then followed the suspects to where a spot protesters had gathered.

The driver of the tractor was identified and RCMP are working attempting to locate him. The farm tractor and semi truck involved in this incident have been seized.

RCMP emphasize the primary goal throughout has been and will continue to be the safety of the public and RCMP officers.

They also encourage all participants in the illegal blockade preventing access to the Coutts border to leave immediately or relocate to the designated site for the legal protest.

Demonstrators have been at the border since Jan. 29 protesting against COVID-19 vaccine mandates for cross-border truck drivers and broader health restrictions.