Alberta pair face firearm charges after Highway 17 traffic stop

An Ontario Provincial Police cruiser is seen along a northwestern Ontario highway in this undated police image. (File photo/Supplied/Ontario Provincial Police)

A Calgary man and woman face multiple charges after Ontario Provincial Police discovered two guns, cannabis and unmarked cigarettes during a traffic stop in northwestern Ontario.

“The traffic stop occurred just after 10:30 a.m. along Highway 17 in Brothers Township,” wrote OPP regional media and communications advisor Erin McCrea in an email to CTV News.

During the stop, officers observed indicators of drug possession and “detained the vehicle’s occupants for further investigation,” police said in a social media post detailing the incident.

OPP said a subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a revolver-style handgun located in a backpack directly behind the driver’s seat, as well as a Chiappa 45-70 rifle found inside a suitcase.

“Neither the male driver nor the female passenger possessed the required licence,” said police.

OPP also seized an edged weapon, opened cannabis products and unmarked cigarettes.

As a result, both occupants of the vehicle were charged with knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm and occupying a motor vehicle knowing there was a firearm inside.

The man also faces a second count of knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm and additional charges for speeding, having care or control of a vehicle with cannabis readily available and possession of unmarked cigarettes.

Both were held in custody pending a court appearance.

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