A West Vancouver man, who police say has a licence to sell guns, was arrested for an offence involving the transportation of restricted weapons. The man was released from custody, but police have recommended several firearms-related charges against the man. According to West Vancouver Police Const. Ian Craib, the man was associated with several businesses involved in a seizure of 2,500 Chinese-made rifles and guns in a joint operation on Oct. 16 by Richmond RCMP, the Delta Police and a division of the Ministry of the Attorney General. Although the weapons hauled in by police in Richmond, Burnaby and Delta were legally imported, police looking at that case are investigating alleged regulatory offences committed in the transportation and sale of restricted and non-restricted guns.
Police have yet to name the owner of the weapons stored at the locations.
The investigation continues and charges have not been laid in the case. Meanwhile, the guns and ammunition seized in West Vancouver came to light after the owner of the weapons visited the police department on Oct. 16 to apply for a permit to allow for the transport of restricted weapons. According to information contained in a West Vancouver Police search warrant, the man needed the permit to legally transport weapons between homes on Crosscreek Road and Nelson Avenue in West Vancouver. Before West Vancouver Police were able to issue the transport permit, police were told by Richmond RCMP on Oct. 16 that the applicant was the subject of a search warrant for firearms within the Richmond RCMP's jurisdiction. And while examining the permit application, local police found that the 15-shot capacity of two of the restricted weapons the man had listed for transportation was beyond that legally allowed for handguns.