Joint RNC and RCMP Operation Interrupts Firearm Trafficking in Eastern

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police Newfoundland and Labrador (RCMP NL) have made multiple arrests and firearms-related seizures.

On Thursday (August 29) the RNC Weapons and Drug Enforcement Unit (WDEU) observed two men believed to be involved in firearms trafficking attend a home in Harbour Grace. The individuals left the home with a large duffle bag.

The RNC observed 23-year-old Brandon Chafe enter a grey Dodge Charger just before 7:00 p.m. and drive away from the residence. RNC Operational Patrol Services (OPS)attempted to conduct a traffic stop to make an arrest; however, the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed. Patrol officers disengaged in the interest of public safety. The WDEU were in constant contact with members of RCMP NL throughout the operation.

Just before 8:30 p.m., the RNC received a report from a member of the community about a suspicious vehicle in the area of Logy Bay Road in St. John's. RNC WDEU, OPS, Police Dog Services (PDS), and the Forensic Identification Services responded to the area. The suspect vehicle was located and following an area search by PDS, the duffle bag was found. The suspects had left prior to police arrival. Inside the duffle bag, officers found a large quantity of ammunition. The contents of the duffle bag and the grey Dodge Charger have been seized in connection with the investigation.

At approximately 9:50 p.m., RNC patrol officers located Chafe at a residence in Torbay where he was placed under arrest. Chafe has been held in custody to appear in Provincial Court on the following charges:

• Breach of release order
• Flight from police
• Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle

Subsequent search warrants are being executed as the investigation continues. Chafe had been released on Monday (August 26) on a release order while awaiting trial on charges laid by the RNC in May of 2024 related to firearms and drug trafficking.

At approximately 4:00 a.m. this morning, August 30, 2024, Harbour Grace RCMP, assisted by Police Dog Services, executed a search warrant at the home of 50-year-old John Byrne in Harbour Grace. Byrne was arrested without incident and the following items were seized:

• Ten hand guns, including one 3D printed, folding gun
• A Bushmaster, .223 caliber, semi-automatic rifle (confirmed to be stolen from a business in the Lewisporte area in 2013)
• A large quantity of firearm parts and magazines
• Soft body armour
• Approximately 2000+ rounds of ammunition of various calibers
• A large quantity of components to make ammunition

Byrne currently has in excess of 170 firearms charges before the court, including charges laid in June 2023 by RCMP NL in relation to 3D gun production and a large seizure of firearms and other items, including many 3D printed guns. Byrne is also subject to a lifetime firearm prohibition and release order conditions not to possess firearms and ammunition.

John Byrne is scheduled to appear in court today and is charged with a total of 55 additional Criminal Code offences:

• Careless storage of a firearm (10 counts)
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm (10 counts)
• Possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition (10 counts)
• Possession of a firearm obtained by crime (one count)
• Possession of a firearm knowing it to be unauthorized (10 counts)
• Trafficking ammunition (one count)
• Possession of ammunition for the purpose of trafficking (one count)
• Possessing a firearm and ammunition while prohibited (11 counts)
• Failure to comply with conditions of a release order (one count)

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