Firearms, ammunition and a 3D printer seized in Brooks by members of ALERT (Photo Courtesy ALERT)

By Brendan Miller

3D-printed guns seized from Brooks part of nationwide investigation

Jul 6, 2023 | 4:14 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A Canada-wide investigation led to the seizure of several 3D-printed guns in Brooks. Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) says seven search warrants were executed at homes across Alberta on Tuesday.

In Brooks, police say they seized a 3D printer as well as two 3D-printed handguns, two 3D-printed silencers and receivers, four long guns and several magazines and ammunition.

Police believe the silencers and receivers were about to be built into fully-functioning firearms.

Acting Staff Sgt. Blake Czember with ALERT’s regional crime unit says the technology is making it easy for criminals to get a hold of unregistered firearms.

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“The problem with these firearms is they can get into the hands of anybody and they’re untraceable. They are not needed to be registered with the firearms registry and they can be used ultimately in any crime making it very difficult for law enforcement to trace and track,” says Czember.

“It’s obviously a disturbing trend we are trying to get ahead of but there is a lot more work to do amongst all agencies communicating about it and collaborating our efforts.”

In total, nearly 100 3D-printed firearms were seized across Alberta at homes in Brooks, Grande Prairie, Penhold, Innisfail, Lloydminster and Lac Ste. Anne County.

Several suspects have been identified by police who say no formal charges have been laid.

ALERT says its investigation is ongoing while firearms ballistics testing is being completed by an Edmonton-based firearms examination unit.

The investigation was led by Quebec’s integrated team against firearms trafficking called Project Reproduction.

A total of 440 3D-printed firearms were seized across the country from 46 different municipalities.