A Tatla Lake man faces 24 charges ranging from possession of weapons to careless use of a firearm.
Crown Counsel has laid charges against 63-year-old Gerald Kirby as a result of a Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of BC investigation, CFSEU-BC noted in a press release Wednesday.
"In early June 2013, CFSEU-BC received a tip that the man, a long-time resident of Tatla Lake, was trafficking firearms and prohibited devices. CFSEU-BC began an investigation and it was uncovered that the man was allegedly selling assault-style semi-automatic rifles with over-capacity magazines, amongst other guns and weapons," CFSEU-BC said.
Kirby was arrested at his home, located in the 16400 block Highway 20, on Aug. 23 and a search warrant resulted in police finding and seizing 183 firearms of various makes, models, and calibres, along with tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition and prohibited devices such as over-capacity magazines, CFSEU-BC said.
The charges include four counts for possession for the purpose of weapons trafficking, four counts weapons trafficking, three counts unauthorized possession of a firearm, three counts possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized and 10 counts of careless use of a firearm.
Kirby has no previous criminal record and is currently not in custody, the press release noted.
His next court date is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Jan. 29, 2014 in Williams Lake Provincial Court.