OTTAWA: RCMP in Annapolis County seized drugs, weapons and cash when they searched an apartment in Annapolis Royal on Monday.
They were only expecting to find drugs as part of an on-going trafficking investigation, but also found two rifles, three shotguns, two assault rifles, a compound bow and a mini-crossbow.
They did seize cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana, with the help of Annapolis Royal police.
Throwing stars, switchblade knives, a machete, throwing knives, cash and more than 1,000, rounds of ammunitions were also seized.
A 22-year-old man was arrested outside the apartment Tuesday morning. He was released to appear in court July 6 in Annapolis Royal. He’s charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
“We didn’t go in expecting to find these firearms, but it’s not uncommon in the drug culture, when drugs are present to find firearms of this type, the more aggressive combat or tactical style assault rifles,” Bridgetown RCMP Staff-Sgt. Dan MacGillivray said.
He said the weapons seized highlight the need for officers doing drug searches to be careful.
“These are high-risk activities, so we always go in expecting the worst,” he said.
He said the man arrested has a firearms licence, and some of the weapons seized may turn out to be legal. But one small shotgun is questionable, and the assault-style rifles have to be tested to see if they are automatic or not.
But the mini-cross bow, which can be held with one hand, is definitely illegal and enabled the seizure of all the weapons, some of which were unsafely stored, MacGillivray said.
He said that any time police can take crack off the street is a good thing.
“It’s also important for people in the community to know that it is here, and we would really ask for the public’s assistance in contacting police,“ he said. “It’s an effort to try to make our communities safer, so we want that information out there.”
