79 prohibited weapons seized from central Edmonton convenience store

Edmonton police say they’ve seized 79 prohibited weapons and some illicit tobacco from a convenience store in central Edmonton.

EPS says the bust was made on Dec. 17, 2024, when officers executed a search warrant at the store located near 97 Street and 107 Avenue.

During the search, EPS found and seized 71 prohibited knives — including butterfly and spring-assisted knives — as well as eight brass knuckles with spring-assisted knives, 172 packages of contraband cigarettes, and over $18,000 in cash.

“These weapons, including the so-called “trench knives” that were designed as combat knives during the World Wars, contribute to the violence and disorder we are seeing in parts of our inner city,” says Sgt. Dana Gehring with EPS’s Community Safety Teams.

“As part of the Community Safety Teams’ mandate to promote healthy streets in Edmonton, we investigate businesses that are selling prohibited weapons and remove these dangerous items from store shelves.”

As a result, the store owner, 44-year-old Okbamichael Tes Haile, and two employees, 29-year-old Eyob Asgedom and 36-year-old Danial Gebrihiwet, have been charged with weapons trafficking, possession of stolen property, fraud, and contraband tobacco trafficking.