Maskwacis RCMP say gun seizures are on track to surpass 2024 numbers

Maskwacis RCMP arrested and charged a man after catching him walking around intoxicated with a sawed off shotgun. (Supplied)

Police say they are on track to exceed the number of firearms seized from Maskwacis last year.

In 2024, RCMP seized 84 illegal firearms in the community, an increase of 62 per cent from the year before.

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RCMP go by fiscal year when putting together statistics. Since the end of the fiscal year in April, Mounties have seized 18 illegal firearms in Maskwacis.

Illegal firearms include guns with filed off serial numbers, stolen guns and guns in the possession of someone who is prohibited from having a firearm.

Maskwacis has one of the highest crime severity indexes in the province, with firearm violence representing a large portion of those statistics, police said.

During the first two weeks of June, Maskwacis RCMP seized several illegal firearms from various reports, including an incident where an intoxicated man was walking around the community with a sawed off shotgun.

The man has charges for four other weapons offences and is to appear in court on Aug. 14.

A 32-year-old man was arrested on June 11 after officers stopped a suspended driver. Officers found a shotgun while conducting the traffic stop. Following a short foot chase, the man was arrested and charged with four weapons offences, resident arrest and three counts of possession of a firearm contrary to a prohibition order.

The man is to appear in Alberta court on June 26.

“Through community and leadership support, the Maskwacis RCMP have had success in obtaining information on illegal firearms,” said a statement from RCMP on Tuesday. “To maintain community safety and security it is important that these relationships are sustained and prohibited firearms are reported to the RCMP.”