Yesterday, Winnipeg Police released pictures of a number of firearms seized from a residence late last May. The lower receivers of two shown having been produced using a 3D printer, which was also seized.
Winnipeg police made the city’s first ever seizure of a 3D-printed ghost gun. Police expect to start seeing more of this. pic.twitter.com/Zwj0vAZOmh
— Joe Scarpelli (@ScarpelliGlobal) June 9, 2020
Winnipeg police make first-ever seizure of ‘ghost guns’ in the city; one man arrested
WINNIPEG — A 31-year-old has been arrested by Winnipeg police after officers seized 28 guns including some restricted weapons and 3D printed versions of weapon parts that can’t be purchased.
For the first time in Winnipeg, some of the weapons seized are what are known as “ghost guns”.
On May 14, the Winnipeg Police Services Firearms Investigation Enforcement Unit (FIEU) was notified by the Chief Firearms Office that a man in Winnipeg tried to buy a prohibited part for an AR-15 from a firearms reseller.
On May 20, FIEU executed a search warrant at a home in the first 100 block of West Avenue. Of the 28 guns found, 10 were registered restricted handguns, one was a registered prohibited firearm and there were 17 other various long guns.
As part of the investigation, officers learned a lower-end receiver for an AR-15 was created from a 3D printer. CTV News
One of the firearms in question appears to be an AR15 built using the printable Vanguard JT FP lower receiver which is able to be combined with standard AR parts available as spares or a kit. The other firearm shown appears to be a Glock 19 built using the popular FMDA G19 receiver released last year. In April, a G26 variant was seized by Toronto Police, easily identified by the presence of two small screws at the rear which hold the metal rear rails in place
Vanguard JT FP printable receiver. AR15.com
The appearance of these types of hybrid printed firearms is a trend which is sure to rapidly increase in the coming years, especially with the recent release of printable guns able to be assembled using unregulated components available worldwide such as the FGC-9.
