Hay River RCMP say two Alberta men face a total of more than 60 charges after a public tip about an abandoned vehicle and masked men led to their arrest.
Officers received a report on January 16 about a vehicle north of the Alberta border on Highway 1 and “two suspicious men wearing ski masks” later returning to it, police stated in a Tuesday news release.
RCMP say they tracked down the vehicle on Highway 2 and found “a loaded pistol and prohibited magazine, a prohibited rifle, assorted ammunition, a quantity of unstamped cigarettes and a smoke grenade, which is a prohibited device.”
According to RCMP, 21-year-old Sabian Voyager of Alberta faces 20 charges “including numerous firearms offences, obstruction of a peace officer, failures to comply with release order conditions and other charges.”
Aaron Auigbelle, an Alberta 40-year-old, “was subject to four separate weapons prohibition orders at the time of his arrest” and faces 42 charges, police stated. Those include weapons offences, failing to comply with prohibition orders and obstructing a peace officer.
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
Both are in custody and were due in court in Yellowknife on Tuesday, police stated.
“This matter is believed to be related to the illicit drug trade in Hay River and remains under investigation at this time,” RCMP added.
“This matter came about as a result of a diligent member of the public reporting suspicious activity to the RCMP, resulting in police removing dangerous weapons and individuals from the community.”
