Firearms charges laid 1 year after Kelowna search warrant, RCMP say

Police shared this photo of the weapons seized during the search. (Kelowna RCMP)

A man and a woman from Kelowna have been charged with weapons offences, one year after police arrested them while executing a search warrant as part of a drug trafficking investigation.

Police arrested 41-year-old Lindsey Smith and 25-year-old Austin Pederson in March 2025, but released them pending further investigation, Kelowna RCMP said in a news release Wednesday.

The detachment said charges have now been approved against both individuals, who have been re-arrested and are in custody awaiting a bail hearing.

Smith has been charged with two counts of possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm and ammunition without a licence, as well as one count each of the following:

• Possession of a prohibited device without a licence
• Possession of a firearm while prohibited
• Possession of ammunition while prohibited
• Possession of a prohibited device while prohibited.

Pederson has been charged one count each of possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm without a licence, possession of a firearm while prohibited and possession of ammunition while prohibited.

Police did not say where in Kelowna the pair was originally arrested. They shared a photo of the weapons seized during the search, which included five guns and two crossbows.

“Our investigative teams are committed to completing thorough, evidence-driven files,” said Staff Sgt. Desmond Kiehlbauch, in the release.

“This case required careful, detailed work to ensure we could present the strongest possible evidence before the courts. Our focus remains on public safety and holding individuals accountable through a comprehensive investigative process.”