Two men, already before the courts on firearms-related charges, have been arrested and charged again after RNC and RCMP say they interrupted a local firearm trafficking operation.

Twenty-three-year-old Brandon Chafe, who was already awaiting firearms charges related to his arrest in Mount Pearl last year, was arrested in Torbay on Thursday evening.

RNC say he was seen leaving a home in Harbour Grace with a duffle bag on Thursday. When police attempted to pull him over, he sped away in a grey Dodge Charger. The car was later found abandoned and the car and duffle bag, which contained a large amount of ammunition, were seized.

He’s facing additional charges of breach of a release order, flight from police and dangerous driving.

Meanwhile, 50-year-old John Byrne of Harbour Grace, who already had more than 170 firearms charges against him, was arrested early Friday morning by RCMP.

A large number of items were seized including hand guns, a semi-automatic rifle, and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Byrne is now facing 55 additional charges as a result says RCMP Superintendent Keith McKinnon.

The new charges include unsafe storage, and possession of firearms “by an individual that was under prohibition.”

Recovered items:

· Ten hand guns, including one 3D printed, folding gun

· A Bushmaster, .223 caliber, semi-automatic rifle (confirmed to be stolen from a business in the Lewisporte area in 2013)

· A large quantity of firearm parts and magazines

· Soft body armour

· Approximately 2000+ rounds of ammunition of various calibers

· A large quantity of components to make ammunition

Additional charges against John Byrne:

· Careless storage of a firearm (10 counts)

· Unauthorized possession of a firearm (10 counts)

· Possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition (10 counts)

· Possession of a firearm obtained by crime (one count)

· Possession of a firearm knowing it to be unauthorized (10 counts)

· Trafficking ammunition (one count)

· Possession of ammunition for the purpose of trafficking (one count)

· Possessing a firearm and ammunition while prohibited (11 counts)

· Failure to comply with conditions of a release order (one count)