Weapons, ammunition seized as 11 people arrested at Coutts border blockade

Alberta RCMP say they have detained 11 people after an investigation at the Coutts border crossing led to the seizure of more than dozen long guns, hand guns, ammunition and body armour.

In a news release Monday morning, RCMP said they recently became aware of a small organized group within those involved in the larger Coutts border protest. “The group was said to have a willingness to use force against the police if any attempts were made to disrupt the blockade,” RCMP said. “This resulted in an immediate and complex investigation to determine the extent of the threat and criminal organization.” Read more: Trudeau invokes Emergencies Act for 1st time to aid convoy blockade response A search warrant was executed early Monday morning on three trailers that RCMP allege were associated with the criminal organization.

The following items were seized: Police said 11 people were arrested and detained as a result of this investigation. Read more: Coutts port of entry temporarily suspended: CBSA In an unrelated news conference Monday morning, Premier Jason Kenney addressed what he called the “urgent developments” at the border.

Kenney said he was told “thousands of rounds” of ammunition were seized by the RCMP. “This underscores the severity of what has been happening,” the premier said. “To those who have been impatient about enforcement, I ask them to understand that this investigation has been ongoing over the past week and the RCMP, obviously, did not want to escalate the situation that could provoke potential violence until they had a tactical plan in place at the appropriate time to take enforcement action and to seize these weapons.” Kenney said the government has procured “all of the necessary heavy equipment”