MELFORT – A 56-year-old man accused of trafficking firearms was remanded in custody after his appearance in Nipawin Circuit Court on March 20.
Steven Bondy now has a bail hearing scheduled for March 25. The Crown is opposed to his release.
Bondy’s arrest on March 6 followed an investigation by Saskatchewan RCMP’s Prince Albert Crime Reduction Team (CRT) into firearms trafficking in the Hudson Bay area.
Prince Albert CRT and Saskatchewan RCMP’s Emergency Response Team executed a search warrant at a home in the Viellardville and seized numerous firearms. The firearms included 40 rifles, two handguns, about 20 disassembled firearms, more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition, powder and rifle casings used to reload shells, boxes of prohibited high capacity rifle magazines, boxes of prohibited high capacity rifle magazines, mint coins and gold jewelry investigators believe are stolen, and small amounts of cocaine and crystal methamphetamine as well as trafficking paraphernalia.
Bondy, from Hudson Bay, was charged with weapons trafficking, two counts each of unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of property obtained by crime, and possession for the purpose of trafficking.
"Dozens of firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition have been removed from the underground market, and potentially from getting into criminal hands throughout Saskatchewan," said S/Sgt. Ryan How, north district manager of the Saskatchewan RCMP’s Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Team.
“CRT’s mandate is to suppress the activity of criminals that threaten community safety. This is a perfect example of how they can work with local detachments to literally remove risk from our communities.”
Saskatchewan RCMP’s Hudson Bay detachment and Police Dog Services assisted with this investigation.
RCMP say the investigation continues.
Anyone with information should contact their local police of jurisdiction. Dial 310-RCMP to reach your local RCMP detachment. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.
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