Police seize guns, body armour, ammunition and firearm parts at a home in Torbay this morning

Police seized 10 handguns, 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 and more than 2000+ rounds of ammunition of various calibers, as well as components to make ammunition

The RNC and the RCMP have made multiple arrests and firearms-related seizures.  Yesterday, police saw two men believed to be involved in firearms trafficking going into a home in Harbour Grace and left with a large duffle bag. Police say 23-year-old Brandon Chafe got in a grey Dodge Charger just before 7:00 p.m. and drove away from the residence. RNC tried to stop him but he fled at a high speed. Just before 8:30 p.m., the RNC received a report of a suspicious vehicle in the area of Logy Bay Road in St. John’s. The vehicle was located and the duffle bag was found but 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., Chafe was arrested at a Torbay home. At 4a.m. this morning, RCMP searched the home of 50-year-old John Byrne in Harbour Grace.  Byrne was arrested without incident. Police seized 10 handguns, 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 and more than 2000+ rounds of ammunition of various calibers, as well as 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.  He is also subject to a lifetime firearm prohibition and release order conditions not to possess firearms and ammunition. He is now facing 55 additional firearm related charges.