Calgary man arrested in firearms trafficking investigation
Posted November 28, 2018 11:57 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – An investigation by the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) into firearms straw purchasing, has resulted in the arrest of a 26-year-old Calgary man.
The act of straw purchasing involves someone without a criminal record and a valid possession and acquisition license (PAL) obtaining firearms for someone who otherwise could not or does not want their name associated with the transaction.
ALERT’s Guns and Gangs team alleges seven handguns were lawfully acquired and then sold on the criminal market.
Philip Edward Sarrasin Sarrasin was arrested on October 24, 2018, with the assistance of Calgary Police Service.
Sarrasin has been charged with firearms trafficking, possession of a firearm at an unauthorized place, and failing to report a lost firearm.
Spokesperson for ALERT Mike Tucker breaks down the investigation.
“This individual had purchased seven handguns during a nine-month window and those transactions were flagged as being suspicious. Once we started taking a look at it, further information developed and spearheaded the process.”
According to ALERT, three of the handguns later surfaced during police investigations, while four are still unaccounted for.
Tucker said the issue of firearms trafficking is one they’re constantly fighting.
“We’ve shifted resources to dedicate more investigations into these types of straw purchasing offences. [We’re] concerned with getting firearms out of the hands of criminals and organized crime.”
