Firearms trafficking ring targeted in west Edmonton, 5 men charged

Five Edmonton men are facing a seriesofcharges after a black market firearms traffickingring was targeted by ALERT.

Eight firearms were seizedSept. 23as four search warrants were executed on homes across west Edmonton.

The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams' gang unit recovered three rifles, five handguns, body armour, silencers, and a crate containingvarious rounds of ammunition.

Investigators say the firearms were being purchased legally, but werethen illegally supplied to Edmonton-area criminal networks.

A workshop in one of the homes was being used to illicitlymanufacture silencers, and to convert and defacefirearms before they hit the black market, ALERT officials said in a statement issued Thursday.

Many of the firearms had their serial numbers filed off. Asemi-automatic rifle had been converted to shoot fully automatic.

A total of 107 charges have been laid against five men in their thirties.

ALERT begin its investigation in last month, after receiving a tip about a suspected firearms trafficking business operating in Edmonton.