RCMP Says 3 Gun Traffickers Busted in Ottawa Police Investigation

The RCMP logo is seen in a file photo. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck)

Three men who allegedly distributed illegal handguns in Ottawa have been arrested by the RCMP and were scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 1.

The RCMP says its investigation into the trafficking ring started in September 2021 and was conducted by its Transnational and Serious Organized Crime Section with assistance from the Ottawa Police Service (OPS).

The three individuals arrested were allegedly importing the illegal firearms from the United States. The firearms bore no serial numbers making them sought after by criminals.

James Kongkhaw, 39, David Lafontaine, 44, and Justin McPolin, 46, have been charged with conspiring to traffic firearms and conspiracy to commit an offence.

Kongkhaw and Lafontaine are said to be from Ottawa, whereas McPolin is said to be from Toronto.

The men face a total of over two dozen additional charges, including possession of a loaded prohibited firearm and possession of a firearm knowing the serial number has been removed.

The arrests come at a time when the federal government is addressing gun crimes and firearms in legislation.

The Liberals’ Bill C-5 to repeal mandatory minimum sentences for a number of firearms-related offences received Royal Assent on Nov. 17.

The stated purpose of the bill is to address “systemic racism” in the justice system to reduce the overrepresentation of indigenous and black people in prisons.

Some of the offences where the mandatory minimum penalty was repealed include using a firearm in the commission of an offence, weapons trafficking, robbery with a firearm, and extortion with a firearm.

On a separate track, the Trudeau government has taken a number of steps against legal handguns in recent months, first by banning their importation, then by freezing their transfer.

Bill C-21, which aims to make the handgun freeze permanent, completed second reading in the House of Commons last June and is currently before committee.

The Liberals added amendments to their bill in late November in order to target a broader range of firearms than handguns and the previously announced ban of what it calls “assault-style” firearms.

An amendment proposes to ban firearms able to fire centre-fire ammunition in a semi-automatic manner, which would make a massive number of firearms instantly illegal.