Police warn of brand-marked, toy-style 3D-printed guns

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This article was published 04/05/2023 (856 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The head of the Winnipeg police organized crime division is warning the public to keep an eye out for 3D-printed pistols and rifles with distinct markings, after investigators arrested an alleged manufacturer following a multi-month probe.

Winnipeg Police Service firearms investigators began looking into the man accused of making and selling 3D-printed guns from his home in January, after a tip from the Canada Border Services Agency.

Border agents and police discovered gun parts being shipped to the city, disguised as tools or machining equipment, via couriers from the United States and China.

Insp. Elton Hall told reporters at WPS headquarters Thursday investigators believe the suspect — who was mostly acting alone, though he had underworld contacts — was manufacturing and selling guns to so-called bad actors.

“There’s a small percentage of people in Winnipeg who need crime guns, illegal guns, 3D-printed guns. They’re generally people in gangs or drug networks or organized crime figures,” Hall said.

“These are crime guns… They’re going to the criminal element.”

Firearms investigators executed a warrant March 31 on a home on the 300 block of Boyd Avenue. They seized 20 Glock-pistol-style lower receivers, a 3D-printed AR-15-style rifle (that looks near-identical to Nerf toy guns), and a slew of parts meant to be assembled into functioning guns, Hall said.

Many of those lower receivers — the base of a firearm in which a slide and trigger are connected — have distinct markings, including some with a Gucci fashion brand logo. Some are brightly coloured — hot pink, teal and blue — while others are black or white.

The inspector said he believes the markings were largely a marketing ploy.

Hall said police believe numerous guns the suspect manufactured are on local streets, imploring anyone with information to call investigators at 204-986-3258 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477.

Specifically, Hall said, officials believe there are pistols with the Gucci logo and Nerf-style rifles in criminal hands.

The rifles that look like toys are particularly concerning, said Hall.

“If you’re going to a firearms call and a young man or a young girl is coming around the corner with one of these firearms, the first reaction from police is going to be ‘That’s a toy gun’ — then before you know it, you have a situation starting,” he said, adding the public would also assume it’s a toy.

In the March 31 raid, police also seized 3D-printed ammunition magazines, a regularly manufactured rifle and more magazines, ammunition, a 3D-printer and plastic filament used to in manufacturing, and 28 grams each of cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms.

Hall said city police are increasingly seeing 3D-printed firearms on the street — and resulting violence.

“Last year, for example, we seized 14 3D-printed guns in the city. This year, we’re already at 23, and I believe we just seized two more,” Hall said.

“We’ve seen a real big influx in 3D-printed guns in this city over the last two years, especially in the last four months.”

Hall said the first quarter of 2023 logged more reported shootings than any other first quarter in history. He was unable to provide specific numbers Thursday, as the data is not yet official.

The inspector said he’s in support of the federal government moving to control the 3D-printed parts — receivers, slides and other components — under the criminal code, as although typically manufactured parts are subject to legal controls, 3D-printed parts are currently not.

“Really, what we’re seeing is you can have a fully functioning handgun, you can take it apart and have it your pocket or other places and bring it down the street, and it’s not a firearm anymore,” he said.

Jackson Prince, 18, of Winnipeg, has been charged with two counts of weapons trafficking, possession for the purpose of weapons trafficking, unauthorized possession of a firearm, unauthorized possession of a prohibited device or ammunition, store firearm contrary to regulations, possession of the proceeds of crime under $5,000 and two drug trafficking charges.

He remains in custody. His first court appearance is scheduled for Friday.

Court records show Prince has no prior convictions in Manitoba.

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Meantime, a provincial court judge recently gave a man who made and sold 3D-printed guns what is believed to be the longest prison sentence in Canada for weapon offences involving a 3D printer.

Blake Ellison-Crate, 24, pleaded guilty in April to 13 offences and was sentenced to 12 years behind bars.

Judge Alain Huberdeau said Ellison-Crate was involved in a “sophisticated commercial operation” and clearly knew the “trail of destruction” he was leaving behind him.

erik.pindera@winnipegfreepress.com

Twitter: @erik_pindera

Erik Pindera
Reporter

Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020.  Read more about Erik.

Every piece of reporting Erik produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.