A 57-year-old man from Beausejour, Robert Ripcik, is sentenced to five years in prison for multiple firearms-related offences, including the unauthorized possession of ghost guns, which are untraceable weapons made from kits or 3D-printed components. Following a lengthy investigation prompted by border agents intercepting a suspicious shipment in April 2023, authorities found a range of weapons, including a fully automatic AR-15-style rifle, during searches of Ripcik’s rural property in March 2024.
In addition to his prison term, Ripcik faces a 10-year firearm ban and is required to submit a DNA sample. Janalee Bell-Boychuk, regional director general for the prairie region of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), emphasizes the dangers posed by ghost guns, particularly their difficulty in being traced when misused by criminals. The investigation benefited from collaboration with the Winnipeg police and the Manitoba RCMP, highlighting ongoing concerns about the proliferation of unregulated firearms.
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