Vehicle stop leads to guns, weapons and bomb discovery in Nanaimo

0
315

NANAIMO: In the early morning hours of Saturday January 22, 2022, Nanaimo RCMP Officers were conducting proactive patrols in the area of Bowen Road and Meredith Road when they observed a suspicious vehicle. They quickly determined that the vehicle in question, an older model Ford Focus, did not have valid insurance and a traffic stop was initiated to investigate the matter further. 

What the investigating officers did not expect to find after locating a stolen insurance decal, were various types of prohibited weapons, drugs, several hundred dollars in Canadian currency, and an improvised explosive device. 

Of note, officers located a loaded .12-gauge shotgun and a loaded .12 gauge “zip-gun” improvised firearm, and a prohibited stun-gun flashlight. A homemade improvised explosive device was also found in the vehicle. The RCMP Explosives Disposal (EDU) were consulted and recommended that the device be taken to a nearby field until such time EDU could attend and safely destroy it.

This is an excellent example of General Duty Officers in Nanaimo conducting a thorough investigation of a suspicious vehicle that went from a straight forward charge under the Motor Vehicle Act charge for no insurance, to apprehending three persons and getting several extremely dangerous weapons off the streets.” said Cst. Gary O’Brien. 

The suspects arrested were a 31-year-old male from Vernon, and a 23-year-old male and a 28-year-old female, both from Nanaimo. Charges are pending and the investigation is ongoing. All of the individuals were later released while the investigation continues.