North Battleford Provincial General Investigation Section: male charged after weapons trafficking investigation

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On March 18, 2022, North Battleford RCMP received a report of unwanted persons inside a residence on 33rd Street in Battleford. Investigation lead to North Battleford RCMP executing a search warrant at the residence. Officers located and seized four firearms, including two semi-automatic handguns.

As a result of investigation, three adults and one youth were arrested and charged. Details of these charges were sent in a March 23, 2022 weekly report sent by the North Battleford RCMP. An excerpt is below for background.

Saskatchewan RCMP's North Battleford Provincial General Investigation Section (GIS) took over investigation into the origin of the seized semi-automatic handguns. On March 24, 2022, GIS officers, with the assistance of the Turtleford/Glaslyn RCMP, executed a search warrant at a residence on 2^nd Avenue in Glaslyn. Officers located and seized three semi-automatic handguns.

Adam Morin of Glaslyn, SK was arrested and charged with:

• 4 counts, transfer a firearm knowing he was not authorized to do so, Section 99(2), Criminal Code
• 1 count, possession of a firearm knowing that the serial number on it had been altered/defaced, Section 108(2), Criminal Code
• 3 counts, unsafe storage of a firearm, Section 86(2), Criminal Code
• 4 counts, possession of a restricted firearm at a place other than where he was entitled to possess it under the Firearms Act, Section 93(2), Criminal Code

Adam Morin will make his first appearance in North Battleford Provincial Court on April 25, 2022.

"North Battleford Provincial GIS assists frontline RCMP officers by conducting specialized and complex investigations," says Supt. Josh Graham, officer in charge of Saskatchewan RCMP's Major Crimes. "Together, they are working to keep communities safe and this investigation is an excellent example of the results of their efforts: five semi-automatic handguns have been seized and a firearms trafficking network has been disrupted. When our officers remove illegal firearms and weapons from the street, we are one step closer to preventing violence in the community."

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Backgrounder

Battleford RCMP executed a search warrant at a residence on 33^rd Street in the Town of Battleford on the morning of Friday, March 18^th after an initial complaint of unwanted persons at a residence late the previous evening. Members responded to the residence and located five individuals in the residence along with evidence of illegal drug activity. Five individuals were arrested at the home and taken into custody: two adult males, two adult females and one youth. Members then executed a search warrant at the residence shortly after 7 a.m. on March 18^th. Among the seized property were four firearms, a significant amount of cash and a small amount of suspected methamphetamine and cocaine. Four individuals were remanded on numerous charges and made their first appearance in North Battleford Provincial Court on Monday, March 21^st.

Renelle Bugler of Lloydminster, Christopher Ludviksen of Glaslyn and Sebastian Sanderson of Saskatoon are each charged with:

• 1 count, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, Section 354(1)(a), Criminal Code
• 1 count, possession for the purpose of trafficking (methamphetamine), Section 5(2), Criminal Code
• 4 counts, unsafe storage of a firearm, Section 86(2), Criminal Code
• 4 counts, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, Section 88(2), Criminal Code
• 1 count, carrying a concealed weapon, Section 90(2), Criminal Code
• 2 counts, unauthorized possession of a firearm/prohibited weapon or restricted weapon, Section 91(3) Criminal Code
• 3 counts, possession of restricted weapon/prohibited weapon with ammunition without license/registration, Section 95(2), Criminal Code
• 2 counts, possession of a weapon obtained by crime, Section 96(2), Criminal Code
• 1 count, possession of a firearm knowing that the serial number on it had been altered/defaced, Section 108(2), Criminal Code

Christopher Ludviksen is also charged with:

• 5 counts, weapons possession contrary to order and fail to surrender authorization, Section 117.01(3), Criminal Code

A 16-year-old youth was charged with:

• 1 count, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, Section 354(1)(a), Criminal Code
• 1 count, resist/obstruct peace officer, Section 129(a), Criminal Code