Police seize 19 firearms, ammunition during probe on Vancouver Island

VANCOUVER – British Columbia’s anti-gang unit says it has seized 19 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition during an investigation on Vancouver Island that led to one arrest.

The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C. says members also seized six grams of crack cocaine, as well as other items including a Taser and equipment used for the sale of drugs from the properties located in Courtenay.

Sgt. Lindsey Houghton says police received a tip in November that a 31-year-old man who has ties to at least one organized-crime group on the island was allegedly selling drugs and possessing firearms.

Houghton says investigators from B.C.’s mainland and Vancouver Island collaborated and arrested the man without incident last Thursday, following a month-long investigation.

Police then executed search warrants on two local residences and a storage facility.

Houghton says the man has been released from custody and could face drug, firearms and weapons-related charges in the coming weeks.