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Firearms Trafficking et. al.

PORTALguns_0In April 2005, CFSEU-BC began assisting the Abbotsford Police Department with an investigation into a number of arsons which had occurred in Abbotsford between November 2004 and January 2005. (Project BOSCO – concluded with multiple arrests in February 2006)

As a result of this investigation and others, a number of arrests and searches were conducted in Abbotsford between April and August, 2005. As a result of these searches, eleven illegal firearms and commercial quantities of drugs were seized. Several individuals were arrested and are now before the courts.

In September 2005, CFSEU-BC, in partnership with the Department of National Defense National Investigation Service (DND), the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET), the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), and the National Weapons Enforcement Support Team (NWEST), began to focus this investigation on the illegal trafficking of firearms. To date investigators have recovered:

  • 108 illegal firearms, including former military machine guns, assault rifles, fully automatic machine pistols and handguns
  • 12 silencers
  • illegal high capacity magazines
  • 85 pounds of bud marihuana and other drugs

Over 100 illegal firearms were seized including former military weapons, assault rifles, fully automatic machine pistols and numerous handguns. Many of these guns were equipped with silencers and illegal high capacity magazines. Weapons such as these have no benign purpose and were destined for criminals in communities throughout the Lower Mainland, to be used to enhance, protect and promote criminal enterprises through violence and putting the lives of innocent citizens at risk in the process.

Investigators have determined that many of these weapons were used or were intended to be used in attempted murders, drive-by shootings and home invasions.

This investigation revealed that numerous guns were being transported and exchanged, primarily during daytime hours, in public locations. These locations included: public parking lots, densely populated residential areas as well as busy main throughfares. In two instances large gun transactions took place directly across from an elementary school. At times participants in these transactions were also armed with loaded guns.

Many of these weapons were directly linked to the drug trade. During a number of searches investigators seized over 85 pounds of bud marihuana and commercial quantities of cocaine, ecstasy and prescription drugs. With a thriving and profitable drug trade those involved resort to illegal firearms and violence to secure and protect their share.

More and more guns like these are falling into the hands of criminals. The ready availability of guns and the criminals’ propensity to use them is reflected in the 106 confirmed shootings recorded in the Lower Mainland in the first half of this year. A recent survey indicated that 81% of Canadians felt that the threat of gun violence was a concern in their communities.

This investigation represents the first firearms trafficking case of this magnitude in British Columbia. A coordinated, integrated, intelligence-led approach involving over 100 officers from 11 different partner agencies was instrumental in this success. CFSEU-BC, in conjunction with other law enforcement partners and all levels of government, remains committed to combating the spread of illegal guns in our communities and the associated violence.

This investigation resulted in the following arrests and charges:

1) Steven Ryan PORSCH – 20 years, Abbotsford, BC

  • Firearms trafficking (9 counts) Section 99(1)(a) Criminal Code
  • Conspiracy to Commit Weapons Trafficking Section 465(1)(c) and 99(1) Criminal Code

2) Matthew Gordon CAMPBELL – 23 years, Abbotsford, BC

  • Firearms trafficking – Section 99(1)(a) Criminal Code
  • Conspiracy to Commit Weapons Trafficking Section 465(1)(c) and 99(1) Criminal Code

3) Jason William Donald KILBACH – 26 years, Hope, BC

  • Conspiracy to Commit Weapons Trafficking Section 465(1)(c) and 99(1) Criminal Code

4) Robert Dela Pena BANEZ – 37 years, Surrey, BC

  • Conspiracy to Commit Weapons Trafficking (3 Counts) Section 465(1)(c) and 99(1) Criminal Code
  • Possession of Firearms for the Purpose of Trafficking – Section 100(1) Criminal Code
  • Unauthorized Possession of Firearms – Section 92(1) Criminal Code
  • Possession of Prohibited Devices (large capacity magazines) Section 92(2) Criminal Code

5) Michael Brent KRZYSZTOFIK – 30 years, Hope, BC

  • Conspiracy to Commit Weapons Trafficking (2 Counts) Section 465(1)(c) and 99(1) Criminal Code
  • Possession of Firearms for the Purpose of Trafficking – Section 100(1) Criminal Code
  • Unauthorized Possession of Firearms – Section 92(1) Criminal Code
  • Possession of Prohibited Devices (large capacity magazines) Section 92(2) Criminal Code

6) Mark Anthony MAAS – 31 years, Coquitlam, BC

  • Conspiracy to Commit Weapons Trafficking (2 Counts) Section 465(1)(c) and 99(1) Criminal Code
  • Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm – Section 92(1) Criminal Code

7) Blake Donald John VENECHUK – 22 years, Langley, BC

  • Unauthorized Possession of Firearms – Section 92(1) Criminal Code
  • Possession of a loaded restricted weapon – Section 95(1) Criminal Code
  • Carrying Concealed Weapons – Section 90(1) Criminal Code
  • Conspiracy to Commit Weapons Trafficking Section (2 Counts) Section 465(1)(c) and 99(1) Criminal Code

8) Christopher John WHALING – 36 years, North Vancouver, BC

  • Firearms Trafficking – Section 99(1)(a) Criminal Code
  • Unlawfully Altering a firearm – Section 102 Criminal Code
  • Possession of Firearms Contrary to Authorization – Section 93(1)(b) Criminal Code
  • Unlawful Possession of firearms – Section 95(1) Criminal Code
  • Conspiracy to Commit Weapons Trafficking (2 Counts) Section 465(1)(c) and 99(1) Criminal Code

9) Christian Fabrizzio Tommy CLEMENTE – 32 years, Coquitlam, BC

  • Conspiracy to Commit Weapons Trafficking (3 Counts) Section 465(1)(c) and 99(1) Criminal Code

10) Henry OMIDI – 31 years, Coquitlam, BC

  • Conspiracy to Commit Weapons Trafficking Section 465(1)(c) and 99(1) Criminal
  • Unauthorized Possession of Firearms (2 Counts) Section 92(1) Criminal Code
  • Possession of Firearms with Serial Numbers Removed (2 Counts) Section 108(1)(b) Criminal Code
  • Possession of Prohibited Devices (large capacity magazines) Section 92(2) Criminal Code
  • Unlawful Possession of Firearms Section 95(1) Criminal Code

As of 2008-05-31, all accused persons except one have pled guilty and are serving Federal prison sentences of between 2 and 9 years.

Weapons Seizures

1) 2005-04-13 – Abbotsford, British Columbia

  • one 5.56 semi-automatic rifle with a 30 round magazine
  • one Cobray 9mm machine pistol with silencer
  • one 223 calibre assault rifle
  • one Ruger 22 calibre assault rifle with silencer

2) 2005-04-14 – Abbotsford, British Columbia

  • two loaded handguns
  • one silencer

3) 2005-07-20 -Abbotsford, British Columbia

  • one .40 calibre Smith and Wesson handgun

4) 2005-08-04 – Abbotsford, British Columbia

  • two machine guns, one loaded
  • two 9mm handguns, one loaded
  • numerous silencers

5) 2005-08-12 – Abbotsford, British Columbia

  • one loaded 9mm handgun

6) 2005-08-25 – Abbotsford, British Columbia

  • one STEN MKII machine gun

7) 2005-08-30 – Abbotsford, British Columbia

  • six STEN MKII machine guns

8) 2005-09-30 – Abbotsford, British Columbia

  • one BREN machine gun

9) 2005-10-01 – Abbotsford, British Columbia

  • five BREN machine guns

10) 2005-10-06 – Abbotsford, British Columbia

  • one STEN MKII machine gun

11) 2005-11-16 – Langley, British Columbia

  • one Colt AR15 assault rifle
  • one STEN MKII machine gun with silencer
  • three semi-automatic handguns with silencers

12) 2005-11-16 – Abbotsford, British Columbia

  • fifteen handguns
  • one STEN MKII machine gun with silencer

13) 2005-12-08 – Langley, British Columbia

  • four handguns with silencers

14) 2006-01-10 – Winnipeg, Manitoba

  • twenty-seven STEN MKII machine guns

15) 2006-03-15 – Coquitlam, British Columbia

  • one Colt 45 handgun

16) 2006-03-29 – Abbotsford, British Columbia

  • two fully automatic MAC10 machine pistols

17) 2006-04-19 – Coquitlam, British Columbia

  • six handguns

18) 2006-04-25 -Langley, British Columbia

  • three fully automatic MAC10 machine pistols
  • one loaded handgun

19) 2006-04-26 – North Vancouver, British Columbia

  • one fully automatic MAC10 machine pistol
  • two handguns

20) 2006-05-01 – Delta, British Columbia

  • nine handguns

21) 2006-05-15 – Coquitlam, British Columbia

  • three handguns
Posted | CFSEU-BC Press Releases

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