Alberta man faces 31 charges for illegal gun trafficking

Alberta law enforcement has seized four illegally-obtained firearms from a Grande Prairie man involved in the trafficking of restricted handguns.

Canada Police Report (CPR) announced that ALERT Grand Prairie had arrested Allan Salud last Thursday, where the 50-year old was charged due to his involvement in straw purchasing. 

In firearms trafficking, a straw purchase refers to any purchase where a middleman agrees to acquire a gun for someone unable or unwilling to purchase the weapon themselves, after which the middleman transfers said gun to that person after the purchase in exchange for a service fee. These firearms typically find their way in the hands of the criminal market.

CPR reported how Salud had purchased at least 11 handguns, “dating back to March 2020.” Although three handguns and a shotgun were seized during the arrest, and a fifth had been removed during an RCMP drug investigation in late March, seven firearms are still unaccounted for.

CPR reports that Salud will face 31 firearms-related offences, including firearms trafficking, possession of a firearm for trafficking, failure to report a lost or stolen firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, possession of a restricted firearm with ammunition, unsafe storage of a firearm and possession of a firearm at an unauthorized place.