Canadian border agents charge Manitoba man for illegal gun manufacturing

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) says a man from Beausejour, Manitoba has been charged in connection to an investigation of guns being smuggled into the country.

According to the CBSA, in April 2023, border officers at the Winnipeg Land Commercial found and seized items related to the manufacturing of unserialized firearms, or ‘ghost’ guns.

An investigation into the matter led to a search warrant being executed on March 12, 2024 at a property near Chatfield, Manitoba — over 100 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

During the search, RCMP and CBSA officers found and seized the following items:

• Nine long guns with serial numbers (two prohibited firearms, seven non-restricted firearms)
• Two unserialized Polymer 80 pistol receiver blanks for Glock pattern handguns (restricted firearms) and other handgun parts
• One Ghost Gunner Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine and one 3D printer
• One unserialized lower receiver for an AR pattern rifle (a prohibited firearm)
• Fully automatic parts for an AR pattern rifle (prohibited devices) and other AR parts
• Multiple overcapacity magazines (prohibited devices) and ammunition

CBSA says a secondary search was conducted at the residence on April 9, and a fully automatic, unserialized AR-15 pattern rifle and automatic switch for a Glock handgun were seized.

As a result of both searches, 53-year-old Robert Ripcik was charged with false statements, possession of illegally imported goods, unauthorized possession of firearms, possession of prohibited devices, possession of a prohibited firearm with readily accessible ammunition, and firearms manufacturing.

“These charges are a direct result of the dedication of the CBSA Integrated Firearm Enforcement Team and our intelligence and criminal investigators in Winnipeg, whose efforts have prevented these prohibited firearms and firearms parts from entering our communities. I’d also like to thank our law enforcement partners, the Winnipeg Police Service and the RCMP, for their contributions in this case,” said Janalee Bell-Boychuk, Regional Director General of the Canada Border Services Agency Prairie Region in a statement.

Ripcik is expected to appear in court on June 7.