Queens County man charged with making 3D-printed weapons, P.E.I. RCMP say

Stephen Brun · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 24, 2025 2:00 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 infinitesimal ago

A 50-year-old antheral from Queens County, P.E.I., faces 5 charges that see firearms manufacturing aft constabulary seized a fig of 3D-printed weapons past month. 

The accused is being held successful custody and is scheduled to look successful tribunal connected Wednesday for a bail hearing.

On Feb. 24, Queens District RCMP received accusation that the antheral was making threats online and arrested him astatine his home, according to a quality merchandise from the P.E.I. RCMP's Federal Serious and Organized Crime Unit, oregon FSOC.  

Officers executed a hunt warrant astatine the location the adjacent time and seized a fig of weapons, including knives, a crossbow and respective 3D-printed firearm parts. 

The antheral has been charged with 1 number each of uttering threats, possession of a limb portion nether a court-ordered prohibition, firearms manufacturing, and 2 counts of possession of a limb for a unsafe purpose. 

Cpl. Gavin Moore, the P.E.I. RCMP's media relations officer, said this is the archetypal clip he's alert of that the seizure of 3D-printed guns has led to charges connected the Island. 

"We bash cognize that this is simply a exertion that is being adopted much and more," Moore said. "It's important that, should anybody person immoderate accusation astir the printing of firearms, that they study that and assistance support Islanders safe."

3D-printed guns autumn into a class of homemade firearms referred to arsenic "ghost guns," successful portion due to the fact that they are untraceable. They person nary serial number because the printed portion of the weapon is the receiver, the portion of the limb that is regulated successful Canada.

The different parts of the weapon tin beryllium purchased astatine weapon stores and online without a firearms licence.

Plans for producing these firearms are readily disposable online, and the items tin beryllium made utilizing a consumer-grade 3D printer.

Moore said the mandatory minimum condemnation for firearms manufacturing is 1 twelvemonth successful jail, up to a maximum of 10 years. 

The FSOC is starring the P.E.I. probe with assistance from the National Weapons Enforcement Team, a portion of firearms experts that helps the RCMP with weapons cases.