The RNC and RCMP have arrested a number of people and laid dozens of charges as the result of an investigation into firearms trafficking on the Avalon Peninsula.
The RNC Weapons and Drug Enforcement Unit on Thursday noticed two men believed to be involved in firearms trafficking show up at a home in Harbour Grace.
The men left the home with a large duffle bag according to RNC Constable James Cadigan.
Police say 23-year-old Brandon Chafe of St. John’s got into a grey Dodge Charger just before 7:00 last night and drove away from the home. RNC attempted to pull the car over, but the car sped off, and police called off the pursuit in the interest of public safety.
Just before 8:30 p.m., RNC received a report about a suspicious vehicle in the area of Logy Bay Road in St. John’s, and a duffle bag was recovered which contained a large quantity of ammunition. The duffle bag, ammunition and Charger were seized.
Meanwhile around 9:50 Thursday night police arrested Chafe, who had been released from custody on Monday while awaiting trial on previous firearms and drug trafficking charges, at a home in Torbay. He’s been charged with breach of a release order, flight from police and dangerous driving.
In the meantime, RCMP arrested 50-year-old John Byrne of Harbour Grace and seized a large number of items from his home. Ten hand guns were seized, including a 3-D printed, folding gun, a Bushmaster .223 caliber, semi-automatic rifle which was reported stolen from a business in Lewisporte in 2013, a large quantity of firearm parts and magazines, body armour, and more than 2000 rounds of ammunition of various calibers.
Byrne already has more than 170 firearms charges before the court including charges laid in June of 2023 in connection with 3D gun production.
Byrne is now facing another 55 firearms-related charges as a result of the latest joint operation.